My Favorite Things, page 2

2011-12-21T16:11:00.000-05:00

The Accidental Bride

Denise Hunter

ISBN: 9781595548023

Paperback, 298 pages

Thomas Nelson, Publisher

My Thoughts:

I have read the first book in this series and am so glad that The B & B Media Group sent me this advanced copy of this book to read and review.

As Shay Brandenberger is trying to keep her head above water while she was raising her daughter

Olivia, and they were living in Moose Creek, Montana. She had agreed to play the bride in the Founder's day reenactment, but what she didn't know that she would she would really get married to Travis McCoy her old high school sweet heat. A trick had been played on her, and she didn't know what she was going to do. She wanted an annunlment but before she could do that, Travis came up with a way she could save her ranch. She didn't know if she agreed to stay married to him would be a good thing or would it be the worst thing she ever did.

2011-06-08T11:54:00.000-04:00

ISBN: 9781414339368

Paperback, 271 pages

Tyndale Publication

A MEMOIR

IRA WAGLER

One fateful starless night, 17-year-old Ira Wagler got up at 2 AM, left a scribbled note under his pillow, packed all of his earthly belongings into in a little black duffel bag, and walked away from his home in the Amish settlement of Bloomfield, Iowa. Now, in this heartwarming memoir, Ira paints a vivid portrait of Amish life—from his childhood days on the family farm, his Rumspringa rite of passage at age 16, to his ultimate decision to leave the Amish Church for good at age 26. Growing Up Amish is the true story of one man’s quest to discover who he is and where he belongs. Readers will laugh, cry, and be inspired by this charming yet poignant coming of age story set amidst the backdrop of one of the most enigmatic cultures in America today—the Old Order Amish.

MY THOUGHTS:

I love to read about the Amish even though I am not one, and Ira Wagler wrote this one and it really describes the details of being on the Amish faith. He grew up in the Old Order Amish and even when he was young, he did not like the long church services as they last as long as three or four hours sitting on a backless bench with nothing to cool you in the summer. He always wondered what it would be like to not have all these restrictions on a person and have some of the things the English had all the time.

He grew up in a large family of eleven children and he was one of the youngest. As his siblings grew up they started to leave home and away from the faith of the Amish, some came back in later years.

When he got out of the eighth grade and begun to have to really work as a man, he hated the life style even more. He finally left home himself but came back for a while. This life was just not for him and when he left the next time he stayed away. He did visit his family some but never came back to live. He became a Christian and saw that some of the things the Amish believed in was not really the correct way to worship.

This is really a good book but is you have been reading the Amish books for a while you will read in this book the same things you already know about this "religion".

Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for providing me a complimentary copy of this book for my honest thoughts..

2011-05-14T13:15:00.002-04:00

Surrendered Sleep

Charles W. Page, M.D.

ISBN: 9780983136105

Paperback, 187 pages

Camino Real Publishers

This is a workbook for someone that has trouble sleeping with a Biblical perspective that will help your journey toward solving this problem without medication.

From back of book:

Wondering if the One who created rest in the first place has anything to teach you about it? Surrendered Sleep approaches insomnia from a biblical perspective and exposes several heart attitudes you may experience in your journey for rest, These Attitudes may not only affect the way you sleep but alos the way you relate to God. Dr. Page will challenge you to wrap your mind around the concept of a God who is just as active during your sleep or sleeplessness as during your wakeful hours.

MY REVIEW:

Surrendered Sleep is for anyone who has trouble sleeping to learn a biblical perspective to help you really rest. This workbook has a place to write your thoughts and evaluate why you can't sleep. As you go through the book you will also read the Bible concerning these same issues. In the back of the book there are scripture verses to look up and read about sleep topics. I think anyone suffering from sleep problems, such as my husband, will benefit from this study. Dr. Page did a great job in putting this book together

I received this book from Willis Communications with no cost to me and this review .

2011-04-28T12:38:00.001-04:00

MAXIMAL RESERVE

Sam Batterman

ISBN: 9781935265528

Paperback, 296 pages

Deep River Books

Petroleum engineer Phil Channing has only been employed a week when he uncovers the largest oil reserve in history. Using the research of a recently murdered friend, Phil discovers the secret to drilling for it lies in lava tubes under the Dead Sea. But will this knowledge throw off the world's balance of power? 272 pages, softcover from Deep River.

My Review:

There is a secret about America having enough oil to last for a very long time, and Phillip Channing is a newly graduate that wanted to make a difference. As his parents were now gone but they had spend everything they had on his education, so he wanted to do something that would have made them proud of him. He did make his mark by finding a place there was oil but so had others discovered his secret and they were out to get that secret, no matter the cost.

As I started to read this book, in the Prologue that thought that I would really enjoy it, but as an older woman it just was not my style of reading. I will have to say that I didn't read it all, but I think that anyone that is interested in the oil industry and the way America is using this reserve would really enjoy the book.

Thanks to "Bring It On" Communications for sending me this book free for me to review, I just wish I could have done a better job of it.

2011-04-26T20:58:00.000-04:00

The Thorn

Beverly Lewis

ISBN:0764205749

Paperback, 352 pages

Bethany House, Publisher

Rose Trilogy

Publisher's Description

Lancaster County, with its rolling meadows and secret byways, may seem idyllic, but it is not without its thorns. THE ROSE TRILOGY is the stirring saga of two Amish sisters on the fringes of the church, and the unforeseen discoveries that change their lives. Rose Kauffman, a spirited young woman, has a close friendship with the bishop's foster son. Nick dresses Plain and works hard but stirs up plenty of trouble too. Rose's sister cautions her against becoming too involved, but Rose is being courted by a good, Amish fellow, so dismisses the warnings. Meanwhile, Rose keeps house for an English widower but is startled when he forbids her to ever go upstairs. What is the man hiding? Rose's older sister, Hen, knows more than she should about falling for the wrong man. Unable to abandon her Amish ways, Hen is soon separated from her very modern husband. Mattie, their young daughter, must visit her father regularly, but Hen demands she wear Amish attire--and speak Pennsylvania Dutch, despite her husband's wishes. Will Hen be able to reestablish her place among the People she abandoned? And will she be able to convince Rose to steer clear of rogue neighbor Nick?

Author Bio

Beverly Lewis, raised in Pennsylvania Amish country, is a former schoolteacher, an accomplished musician, and an award-winning author of more than eighty books for adults and children, many of which have appeared on bestseller lists, including USA Today and the New York Times. Six of her blockbuster novels have received the Gold Book Award for sales over 500,000, and The Brethren won a 2007 Christy Award for excellence in Christian fiction. Beverly and her husband, David, live in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, making music, and spending time with their three grandchildren.

MY REVIEW:

The Thorn is the first in this series, but I had read The Judgement first so I was really glad to get this book so that I could see what happened to Rose's mama and why she was in a wheel chair and I also wanted to see how Christian died. Rose was all the way Amish so much so that she didn't even want to have her running around time as a teen and went ahead and was baptized into the church. She had her boyfriend Silas but she was also very good friends with the Bishops' adopted son Nick. Nick was a down beaten boy that was so alone when the Bishop adopted him and he had been into a lot of trouble and did not want to be an Amish.

Hen, Rose's older sister had left the community during her running around and married an Englischer.
She is now missing her old way of life and hates this her husband does and the things he watches on TV while their little daughter Mattie is in the room. Divorce is something that is just not heard of in the Amish community but she is beginning to want to leave her husband and go back home. She had never been baptized into the church so she was not shunned. But when she and little Mattie shows up at her parent's home, they are worried and begin to push Hen and try to make her see that her place is with . They push Hen and make sure that she knows her place is with her husband and that she need to go back to him.

As always Beverly Lewis turns out a great Amish book, and she was the author of the first Amish book I ever read.

Thanks to Baker Publishing Group for sending me this book to review.

2011-04-24T13:53:00.000-04:00

ISBN: 1414334826

Paperback, 363 pages

Available to ship on or about 05/01/11.

Read about the author here

Susan May Warren and husband

Product Description

Unknown to her tiny town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley spends her nights as Miss Foolish Heart, the star host of a syndicated talk radio show. Millions tune in to hear her advice on dating and falling in love, unaware that she's never really done either. Issy's ratings soar when it seems she's falling in love on-air with a caller. A caller she doesn't realize lives right next door. Caleb Knight served a tour of duty in Iraq and paid a steep price. The last thing he wants is pity, so he hides his disability and moves to Deep Haven to land his dream job as the high school football coach. When his beautiful neighbor catches his eye, in a moment of desperation he seeks advice from My Foolish Heart, the show that airs before his favorite sports broadcast. Before he knows it, Caleb finds himself drawn to the host-and more confused than ever. Is his perfect love the woman on the radio . . . or the one next door?

Award winning author Susan May Warren takes us back to the town of "Deep Haven" with another one of her moving stories of love and loss. (taken from contact sheet)

A young woman "Isadora Presley" that has lost so much when she lost her family in a car accident and it left her so afraid to even go out of her house. She gets anxiety attacks just thinking about it. Her father survived the car crash and used to be the high school football coach before the accident. He now lives in a nursing home and can not do anything for himself but talk.
She has a radio talk show in the upstairs of her house with people calling in to ask her about love. Well she has never been on a date but she handle this very well. The show is called "My Foolish Heart" and when she help the governer's daughter of Ca. and is invited to the wedding she tries everything she can possible do to get out of it, she just can not leave her house and FLY IN AN AIRPLANE! out of the question.

She has a new neighbor "Caleb Knight" moved into the house next door and it takes awhile to even realize this, but when she meets him, he is scared up but still a very good looking young man, but he was parking on her flowers.
Then this big dog came to her house and just ran right through the glass door, and he was dirty with mud all over him. He also went to the neighbors home and ran in and messed up his floor. Caleb had always wanted to be a football coach and after he served in Iraq and paid a high price for doing so, he didn't know if he could ever get this job. But that was what brought him back to Deep Haven, he wanted to be the coach of this high school.

Susan made this such an interesting story that I hated for it to end, I have not read any of the other books in this series, but enjoyed this one anyway.

This book was sent to me free by Tyndale Publications for my review.

2011-04-24T13:05:00.001-04:00

ISBN: 9781601423467

paperbook, 194 pages

two stories in one book
Pre-order here
releases May 3, 2011

This book is for younger readers as a teen but I enjoyed it anyway. Robin Jones Gunn has written about two girls Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen as in each girl's story then interact with each other.

The first story is "Now Boarding at Gate 10" when Christy Miller after her high school graduating and her family has just landing at Minneapolis-St Paul airport as she and her thirteen year old brother went to get something to drink she saw a man she thought was her ex boyfriend so she went up to him and made a fool of herself as it was not and the guy looks at her as if she was crazy.

When they got to Wisconsin to visit relatives she felt at home as this was where they had moved from when her dad's work had gotten bad. She met an old friend Matthew and he drove her around town. She thought that she was still seeing her ex everywhere she went and thought about him a lot. Will this summer vacation with her family change her ways of thinking?

The second story is "In The Event of a Water Landing" where fifteen year old Sierra Jensen was getting to go on a plane trip with her friend Jana, Jana's brother and another friend. This is the first time she had ever gotten to go on a trip without her parents, they were going to meet Jana's parents in Montana. The tickets were mixed up and they had to exchange them for others and then this plane was not going where they needed to meet up with the parents.

I have read some of Robin's Christin fiction books and always enjoyed them. She is a talented written and I think anyone would enjoy this book, if they are thirteen or sixty-eight.

This book was sent to me free from Blogging for Book to review.

2011-04-22T18:15:00.000-04:00

I hand crochet hats, and scarfs, I know that it is not time for these hats but I can't make a lot when it starts to get cold so now is a good time to get one in your choice of color, style and name. I do the names with my embroidery machine and hand stitch them on. If you buy one of these you are getting something made in America by an American and a SC woman. If you are interested leave me a comment with your email address and I will get back to you, all are $15.00 except the pink one with the ears and it is $20.00 all includes the shipping.
Scarfs are $25.00 10"x60" including fringe or can be made without fringe. Stripes are solid, different patterns. Comment for styles.

2011-04-22T13:53:00.000-04:00

MORNINGSONG

Shelly Beach

ISBN: 9780825424517

paperback, 286 pages

Kregel Publications

After Mona VanderMolen comes out of her coma from an accident in Lake Michigan where the water pulled her under and kept bashing her against the rocks. Most times she can't remember things and then she has these terrible headaches. She has an antique store that she tries to run with the help of a seventy five year old man Harold and a lady named Elsie who are always trying to help her.

Then there is her sister Ellen who is always drunk trying to raise a teen age daughter Hallie or is Hallie the one taking care of her mother.

Mona had a friend Adam that loves her but will she realize his love for her just the way she is. Mona has got where she tries to walk every morning but hate her neighbor's broken down cat that had been in the dryer when it was turned on. The cat has never done anything to her except sit in the window every morning as she is walking. Can she ever get to where she can ignore her physical problem in order to help her sister and niece.

As Hallie tries to get her life together and her mother is in the hospital unconscious Hallie decides that she is not going to take care of her drunk mom any longer. While Ellen is released and she and her daughter move in with Harold as they have no where in town to go too, they begin to reconcile their lives.

This book was interesting as this mixed up family and their friends make the best of a bad situation. Really interesting and this is the first time I have read anything by this author.

This book was sent to me free from Kregel Publications in order for me to review.

2011-04-21T11:48:00.001-04:00

THE HIDDEN GIFTS of HELPING

STEPHEN G POST

ISBN: 9781470887813

Hardback 224 pages

Jossey Bass, A Wiley Imprint publisher

Research has revealed that when we show concern for others—empathizing with a friend who has lost a loved one, mowing the lawn for an elderly neighbor, or volunteering to mentor a school-aged child—we improve our own health and well-being and embrace and give voice to our deeper identity and dignity as human beings.
In this moving book, Stephen G. Post helps us discover how we can make “helping” a lifetime activity. The Hidden Gifts of Helping explores the very personal story of Post and his family’s difficult move and their experience with the healing power of helping others, as well as his passion about how this simple activity—expressed in an infinite number of small or large ways—can help you survive and thrive despite the expected and unexpected challenges life presents.
Post’s story is intertwined with supporting scientific research and spiritual understanding. This book can become your companion and guide to the power of giving, forgiving, and compassion in hard times.
The Hidden Gifts of Helping will leave you with the unshakable feeling that the world can be a good place if we act to make it so.

“We can be anywhere, so long as we are helping others and caring for them. This is probably the one source of stability in our lives that we can truly depend on, and so in the end we are never really out of place.”

—Stephen G. Post

I love to help others and can do that better than except help myself. It make me feel so good to do something for someone. This book is just about that, giving of ourselves to help others. It shows that by doing so we are doing what Jesus commented us to do as the Bible verse says "All this you do for others you do until me" now this may not be exactly what it says but I know I have read this in the Bible. Jesus commands we Christians to help others and to feed the hungry and to help clothe the naked. I don't believe in just handing out anything just because they are too lazy to work and get it for themselves as we see so many in America doing. But if they really have a need, not something they want but need then we should help them.

Stephen's book talks about moving from one place and one job to another, he writes that this is a Spiritual understanding as we look inside ourselves and gain more strength of our faith. This book can be picked up anytime that we need help ourselves and read a little of it to help make us understand more of what life is all about.

This book was sent to me by The B and B Media Group for my review.

2011-04-20T14:01:00.000-04:00

Book two of the Little Valley Series

ISBN: 9780736928052

Harvest House Publishers

Paperback 274 pages

Read about Jerry here

Ella Yoder has moved into her dream house. In the stillness of the great house, Ella ponders her options. How is she to survive on her own? How will she ever forget Aden? What is to become of her?
Two would-be suitors soon make their intentions known, but Ella is unsure of her own feelings. As she agrees to take care of Preacher Stutzman’s three motherless girls, Ella’s heart is touched by their love for her. Could their affection be the answer to Ella’s quest? Can God speak through the love of a child?
Readers of Amish fiction will fall in love themselves with Ella Yoder and hope with her that she finds the love and happiness she seeks.

MY REVIEW

Another great Amish book and as always Jerry has wrote a great one. I read the first one in this series and so glad to get this one. Jerry has a way about his writing that always leaves you hanging at the end of the book wishing for another page or two.

As Ella Yoder moves into her new home alone, and decides to rent out part of it and to a quilt shop in the basement. She has to make a living as she is single and has left her dad's house. She then starts to take care of Preacher Stutzman's three little daughters as his wife had died.

Ella has lost her betrothed Aden and now has too many of the young men wanting to take her out. She does not feel as if she is ready for another boyfriend or if she ever will be. She loves the little girls and they are so easy to take care of, she can quilt while they are there. She uses her wedding quilt as an example and one the first day she opened her quilt shop she got an order for her first quilt. She was quite happy, as she will have the income from that and she rents out the first floor of her house to a young married couple and get paid to care for the little girls.

But will she ever pick another young man to fall in love with and can she ever forget Aden. Come on Jerry get those words down on paper I need to know.

Thanks to Harvest House Publisher and the author for sending me this book to review.

2011-04-18T11:12:00.001-04:00

CROSSFIRE

Jeanette Windle

ISBN: 978-0825441165

Suspence, 617 pages

Kregel Publications

Product Description

A missing helicopter and tons of hijacked cocaine are just part of the maelstrom awaiting Sara in her new life. Following a whirlwind romance and impromptu wedding, she is whisked off to her husband's palatial family estate in Bolivia. Cultural differences and family adjustments are no match for her fierce love for Nicolas. But Sara soon opens a Pandora's box of questions surrounding the Cortez family's billion- dollar business, becoming ensnared in a deadly clash between her new family, a drug cartel, and the DEA. Driven by heart-pounding drama and supported by compelling realism and precise detail, CrossFire catapults you into an all-too-real world of intrigue and danger . . . captivating and mesmerizing you from first page to last. Experience first-hand the inexorable forces and critical choices that draw Sara relentlessly into the CrossFire.

MY REVIEW:

Sara Conner, a young woman in college and alone having lost her parents, is longing for someone to love her and wanting a family of her own. She meets another student Nicolas Cortez from Boliva that had come to America to study. A romance begin, they are married and move to Boliva so he can work at his Dad's business. She had no idea that she would be moving in with her in-laws in a mansion.

While all around the town people lived in huts with noting to eat, and some were homeless. There were so many homeless children, she felt her teacher instinct coming out in her and wanting to help. But she was a Cortez and all she was supposed to do is lay around or go to society meeting, which she did not like.

As the story goes on, she started to wonder why Coca was legal to grow and everyone just saw it as another thing in the country. But all she could think about was that it was made into cocaine and sent to America and Europe for sale. This troubles her, her new husband alone with his father were gone a lot of the time and it was supposed to be just a thing but she did not like it, so she begin noticing things and listening as she became more surprised at what she heard.

If you love suspense books then you are going to love this one, it really goes into detail on how the people that sell the drug lives and the ways they get it out to America. It is a long book and will take a while to read but I believe you will really enjoy it as much as I did.

Thanks to Kregel Publications for sending me this book to review.

2011-04-13T11:04:00.000-04:00

LISA WINGATE, author

Bethany House Publisher

ISBN: 9780764208218

Paperback, 360 pages

After a cheating husband and a divorce Andrea Henderson has lost everything she had, so she and her fourteen year old son Dustin had moved to her parents house on Moses Lake, Texas. Her parents had always tried to control her life so she really hated to beholden to them, but had no other choice. Andrea had gotten a job with Taz that has an office where they go out among the people and try to council children and parents that are having trouble with their family lives. She had to go up into the hills on the (Other) side of the lake where there are mud roads and people live so far back that you really don't know they are there.

Then there is Dustin that is really mad because he had to move and leave his school and friends and his dad had really stopped getting him as he was just too busy with his new wife and her children. He was just mad at everything as young teens seem to do.

Then there is the store/cafe on the lake where everyone goes, and Sheila tried to make all of them eat tofu instead of good ole hamburgers. The old men gather there and take about fishing and sometime they really go fishing when they want to be nosy. The game warden Mart McClendon is always trying to control the lake and help people and then sometimes he has to ever give out a citation.

All of these people together makes for a great story. There is everything you may want to read about in this book, romance, gossip, mystery, so be sure to pick up a copy.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishing for sending me this book for review.

2011-04-06T11:45:00.000-04:00

GOD'S GUEST LIST

DEBBIE MACOMBER

ISBN: 9781491439108963

Howard Books, 208 pages

Debbie Macomber has written a little book about a list she had of thirty people that she really admired though out her life. As she got to meet most of them and realized how they impacted her life and the choices she made. The book is made up of small chapters and at the end there is a section that allows the reader to look their own lives and she had a suggestion page where the reader can apply the lessons to the people they come in contact with. There is some really nice poems in the back of the book

There are Bible verses all through the book and I really like this and at the end of the book there is a "RSVP" section that helps you think about the way you can be a help to anyone.

This books is a little pricey for such a small book, I really didn't find anything in it to help me as I had rather look things up in the Bible.

The advanced readers edition of this book was sent to me by Christian Review of Books for my review.

2011-04-06T10:45:00.001-04:00

THE LIGHTKEEPER'S BALL

Colleen Coble

ISBN: 9781595542687

Paperback, 296 pages

Thomas Nelson Publisher

MY REVIEW:

This just the type of book that I love, historical, romance, mystery what else could you ask for. Colleen Coble always writes a good read and I have enjoyed her books before.

In a New York brownstone just a half block from the Astor mansion lived Olivia and her mother, the father had died in a mine accident in Africa. The other daughter Eleanor had went west to marry and Olivia and her mother just received the word that Eleanor was dead and had died from drowning. She was afraid of the water and Olivia could not believe that she had went into the water and that something else had happened to kill her. The father and his friend Mr. Bennett owned the diamond mine together, but since his death Olivia and her mother were having a hard time making it on their own.

Olivia got on a ship to go to Mercy Falls, California and try to find out what happened to her only sister. From here on out everything get interesting as Olivia is shoved off the ship right before they landed and almost drowned. The man that saved her was Harrison Bennett but he didn't know who she was as she was going by the name of Lady Devonworth.

The closer she got to where her sister had died the more things begin to happen to Olivia. She found out things that ever the mother didn't know about her father and his partner Mr. Bennett.

This is really a book that you don't want to have to put down, the next page will tell you more and I really hated to see it end.

This books was sent to be by BookSneeze for my review.

2011-04-05T12:04:00.001-04:00

Dancing on Glass

Pamela Binnings Ewen

B&H Publishing Group

ISBN: 0805464301

Paperback , 352pp

Coming July, 2011!

In the steamy city of New Orleans in 1974, Amalise Catoir meets Phillip Sharp, a charming, magnetic artist, unlike any man she has known.
A young lawyer herself, raised in a small town and on the brink of a career with a large firm, she is strong and successful, yet sometimes too trusting and whimsical. Ama’s rash decision to marry Phillip proves to be a mistake as he becomes overly possessive, drawing his wife away from family, friends, and her faith.
His insidious, dangerous behavior becomes her dark, inescapable secret. In this lawyer’s unraveling world, can grace survive Ama’s fatal choice? What would you do when prayers seem to go unanswered, faith has slipped away, evil stalks, and you feel yourself forever dancing on shattered glass?

Amalise lived in New Orleans and is a lawyer and it was a raining as she started to walk home, she ducked into a little store to get out of it for a little while. She looked around and it was a gallery with painting in it for sale. As she was looking she saw these that were really just not right and all of them were of women, but very unrealistic. As she moved she bumped into someone behind her and he started asking her how she likes the paintings. She found out that he was the artist Phillip Sharp.

As time progressed they she found him to be charming, magnetic artist, unlike any man she had ever known. As they became involved and he wanted her to pose for him, and he could not be talked out of it, but then he wanted her to pose in the nude and this she would not do. They later married and then Amalise found out what he really was but she was already married to him. He later was found dead, and then the mystery began to find out how he died.

From the back of the book I though summed it all up " What would you do when prayers seem to so unanswered, faith has slipped away evil stalks, an you find yourself forever dancing on shattered glass.

If you really like a good mystery and romance book all in one then this will be the book for you. Pre-order yours now here .

The Advanced copy of this book was sent to me by Wynn, Wynn Media for my review.

2011-03-25T11:03:00.000-04:00

FALLEN ANGEL
by
Major Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky

ISBN: 9781433671401

Paperback 400 pages

Releases July 2011

PRE-ORDER

Taken from B and H Publishing

Major Jeff Struecker (a real life Black Hawk Down veteran) and his award-winning coauthor tell a space-based intelligence story of intense extremes in their new novel, Fallen Angel, named for the "Angel-12" American satellite that is ambushed by China and falls 22,000 miles to land in remote Siberia. U.S. Sgt. Major Eric Moyer and his Special Ops unit are deployed to find Angel-12 and keep its advanced nuclear fuel from enemy hands-and there are many. A Russian shadow government bent on restoring the former USSR pursues the satellite as does the Chinese special forces group that knocked it from the sky. A rash of military and domestic hostage concerns ensues as the stark truth looms: three nations are racing to the satellite, but only one will get there first.

Chaplain (Captain) Jeff Struecker is a decorated member of the United States Army's most elite fighting corps whose personal experiences in Mogadishu, Somalia, were written about in the New York Times bestseller and major motion picture Black Hawk Down. In thirteen years of active duty, he also fought in Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Iris Gold in Kuwait. As a chaplain Jeff has done multiple tours in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He uses his personal story of survival on the battlefield to tell others how they, too, can be prepared for any circumstances life may bring. Struecker and his wife, Dawn, have five children, and live in Columbus, Georgia.

MY REVIEW:

The novel is names from "Angel-12" an American satellite that is ambushed by China and falls to land in a remote Siberia. As America is afraid that it will land in the hands of someone that will use its nuclear fuel and there are many that would try to find it, so Sgt. Major Eric Moyer and his special unit is sent to try and find the satellite before any one else does.

They find themselves in a lot of trouble as they start looking for the satellite, as the China special forces that knocked it from the sky starts in earnest to find it first.

This is quite a thriller but I am sorry to say that it is just not my taste in books. If you love the military and like to get into a book that will take you to the action then this is the book for you. It is very well written and I believe the authors knew what they were writing about. My review tracks its self to a lot of what I read in the publisher's web page as I did not get the book finished. I just could not get into it.

Thanks to B and H Publisher for sending me this advanced copy of the book to review.

2011-03-21T11:55:00.001-04:00

OVER THE EDGE

Brandilyn Collins

Over the Edge releases 5/1/11.

B and H Publishing

Preorder at:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Christianbook

MY REVIEW:

As I started to read this book I found out a lot of thing about the Lyme disease, as I live in the south I have heard of this for a very long time. I just did not know how bad it can be. I thought it was just something that you could go to the hospital and they would treat you and then it was over, but, as Brandilyn Collins described in this book there can be a long time pain and suffering.

As the book begins Janessa McNeil was asleep in her bedroom with her daughter just down the hall, her doctor husband was not home and it was 2:30 AM. Someone knew what he wanted to do and he wanted to get back at the doctor husband by hurting his family. He knew how to get into a house without any noise, as he slipped upstairs to inject Janessa with some doctored up deer ticks. He wanted her to suffer with the Lyme disease, so that her doctor husband "who was studying how to cure this disease" to see what it really was like. He felt that these doctors was just using the money and playing off on the disease that it was not as bad as he had seen.

From the pages that was sent to me it states "Over The Edge, Collins creates a villain who is every doctor's nightmare: An embittered man who is so angry at the doctor's misdiagnosis of Lyme Disease that he strikes back at those closest to the doctor-his wife and child." To me this is very scary as we never know who might be out there to harm other people to just get even with someone else.

Brandilyn Collins has written 25 Christian fiction novels and this thriller will be sure to please.

This book was sent to me by B and H Publishers of this review.

2011-03-19T12:11:00.000-04:00

Blessed: Living a Grateful Life

Ellen Michaud

hardcover

ISBN 9781606522905 | 176 pages

Penguin Publisher

Summary of Blessed Reviews for Blessed An Excerpt from Blessed

Sometimes we just need to stop for a moment and absorb the quiet moments in the world around us--to take a deep breath and appreciate the things in life that make us thankful and bring us joy. Summer in a Jar is a call to do just that. In this heartfelt collection of her online columns from Diane, the flagship magazine of the Curves women's fitness center organization, author Ellen Michaud reminds us of the everyday blessings that surround us, but we all tend to overlook.
Entries include:

Summer in a Jar: On a 200-acre farm known for its Jersey cows and prizewinning cheese, two women harvest a cornucopia of produce that looks like it came from the Garden of Eden. Although the visit was intended to pick up ingredients for "one of the finest salsas in the near world," the end result is a view of a fertile valley, the rich smell of vegetables freshly tugged from the earth that speaks to the soul, and the natural rhythm of friendly conversation.

The Teapot: During a snowy winter storm, the author pulls her great- grandmother's worn silver teapot down from a shelf. As she polishes the teapot's tarnished surface, she contemplates its long journey over an ocean and through the generations. As she discovers engraved hallmarks that lead to a deeper understanding of its 200-year history, her appreciation for the women who traveled with it grows.

Welcome Home: As an Airbus 321 begins its descent toward the coastal lights of Los Angeles International Airport, the pilot makes an overhead announcement that stills the restless and rustling passengers. What follows are moments of contemplation about the sacrifices of soldiers and, how regardless of one's politics, there is still a shared sense of love and respect for those who fight for our freedom.

The Courage to Change: After a lifetime of self-built barriers, the author's 88-year-old aunt overcomes discouraging memories and years of grief to prove that it's never too late to open yourself to new experiences, take risks, and start over.

My Review:

This book is really great to have beside your chair or bed to pick up when you need a little something to boost your thoughts. It is broken down into chapters that are really a little mini story of its own. This could be a book you may want to share or give as a gift, as it has a presentation page in the front. It has a nice "Spring" look to the book with its greens and blues. Each page is framed by a green floral border.

This is the first book I have read by Ellen Michaud and I really enjoyed it. She has a way with her writing that you can sit and read it over and over.

Thanks to the people at FSB Associates for sending me this copy to read and review.

2011-03-15T12:11:00.003-04:00

Beyond the Myth

New Author Maria T. Holmes

ISBN: 9780983094609

, 60 pages

How To Live The Life You Desire

About the Author

I am a passionate advocate for the Law of Attraction. I began my journey 20 years ago, with the works of Deepak Chopra, and the Celestine Prophecy. I graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor's Degree in Science, I studied with Anthony Robbins, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and Bob Proctor.

I was born in Greece and raised in Stuttgart, Germany by traditional Greek parents, I was exposed at an early age to the ancient art of coffee grind reading. My Mother was considered an expert in coffee grind reading and she believed she was able to forecast events and upcoming information though the translation and understanding of symbols.

As I began my study of the Law of Attraction, I discovered it is one's belief in the future-reading that manifests the outcome, not the reader's "forecast". If you believe in the forecast than you create it in your life; you manifest it through the Law of Attraction. My passion is to inspire and help others to understand how to use the Law of Attraction for a more joyful, fulfilled, and prosperous life.

My Review:

This book was sent to me by the author Maria T. Holmes for my review. This is her first book and the photo are beautiful. The book itself is a really pretty book but small. The book related on "The law of attraction which I don't understand and have never hear of so I looked it up on the net to see the meaning of this. this is what I found on wikipedia "The Law of Attraction is a metaphysical New Thought belief that "like attracts like”, that positive and negative thinking bring about positive and negative physical results, respectively."

As I've said the book is beautifully put together, BUT I don't agree with that the book is about as I am a Christian, it seems to be leaning away from God and want to get people to believe in a different way. I am sorry to put a negative review but I just don't agree with the words of this book.

2011-03-12T20:54:00.002-05:00

The Grandfathers

A film written by Jim Hanon and Jillian Hanon

Produced by Mart Green

An EGM Film

ISBN: 894684002043

$19.95

A young man, deep in the Amazon jungle, searches for his identity while living with the primitive tribe that murdered his grandfather.

My Review:

When Jessie was sixteen years old he was forced by his family to move to Waodani in the Amazon jungle, he was very upset that he was having to leave his home in Florida and go this far away. Jesse begin to quarrel with his dad and was befriended by Mincaye. As the time passed he begin to settle in and begin to call the leader of Waodani "Grandfather" only later did he learn that this elder that he now called Grandfather had been the one that had killed his real Grandfather many years ago.

As Jesse became a part of Mincaye's family, Jesse then began to see the problems the Waodani were having and the danger that they were facing in losing their culture. He really felt bad when he begin to see the young people of the tribe leaving and going to larger cities. Jesse had by now learned what it means to respect the ways of the past and was hoping that he and Mincay could build a future together.

This film was very interested and nice to watch and listen to the music that plays during the film. Makes you feel as though you are there.

This inspirational film has been awarded the Dove Foundation seal of approval.

the Dove Foundation seal of approval.

This DVD was sent to me by the B and B Media Group for my review.

2011-03-11T11:29:00.002-05:00

Mine Is The Night

Liz Curtis Higgs

Pre-Order Now

Isbn: 9781400070022
paperback 450 pages
WaterBrook Press

I loved this book as I have read some of Liz's other novels, she never fails to create a great read. Liz loves Scotland and so she sets some of her book in that country.

As the Story starts Elizabeth Kerr and her mother-in-law Marjory were both widows and leaving their beloved home and traveling to Selkirk to live with a cousin Anne, or so they hoped as they had sent Gibson "the faithful servant in their home, ahead of them but he was walking as they did not have enough money for him to ride with them. Marjory had two sons and they both were married but all killed in a war when they apposed King George and supported Prince Charlie. She had lost everything, her home and everything that went with it, also her title. One of the daughter-in-laws decided to go back to her homeland but Elizabeth would not leave her mother-in-law.

The first thing I though about when I started reading about Elizabeth staying with her mother-in-law was Ruth and Noami in the Bible. There also all the men were killed and the only one that stayed with Noami was Ruth.

Both Ladies had to keep it a secret who they were because they still could be put into prison. They found Anne, but no Gibson. They became really worried about him as he was an old man and had to walk forty miles. The novel is so interesting that as I kept reading it drew me in further as if I were there. Both Elizabeth and Marjory had to learn to work and help Anne as she was only a lace maker. Elizabeth knew how to sew as she was born in the Highlands, but Marjory had to learn how to cook and keep house, "A very small room" really and the younger ladies worked with their hands to make a few shillings so they could eat.

The novel continues with their lives and how they all three coup with going against King George. Who they meet alone the way and how they find romance.

This book was sent to be by Waterbrook Publishing for my honest review.

2011-03-09T10:57:00.000-05:00

No Safe Haven

Kimberley and Kayla R. Woodhouse

Released March 15, 2011
ISBN: 9781499671166
341 pages, paperback

My Review:

This book starts out with Marcus in his car and see another car coming straight for him without a driver, he knew what it was and that it was going to kill him. In his last seconds he was thinking of his wife Jenny and daughter Andie. This story takes place in Alaska.

A year later Jenny and Andie was in a small plane with their pilot Hank a long time friend "or had he been" something had gone wrong as Jenny saw Hank with a gun and with a passenger they had let on board. The passenger turned out to be a man named Cole and as he got the gun away from Hank and got into the pilot's seat he passed out. With no one to pilot the plane Jenny got to the pilot's seat and put Andie as her co-pilot but she had only taken one lesson so she was not sure if she could do this or not, but the plane was out of control as everything on it was not working, so she knew they were off course and she was going to crash into the tallest mountain in Alaska.

After the crash Andie looked around and thought everyone was dead but she found her mom was not but was knocked out. She used her little 11 year old head and started to do everything she could for her mom. Andie was not a well child as she had a nerve disorder and had, had brain surgery, she was still in surgery when her dad had gotten killed.

Who was after them and why? Cole turned out to be a friend but who was he? Why did someone kill Marcus and was now after his wife and daughter? This book will keep you turning page after page just to see what happened next. A great book of mystery, romance and Alaska.

This is the first I had heard of HSAN a nerve disorder but it is a real thing and the youngest author has this disorder, so here to find out more about it.

This advanced reader's copy of this book was sent to me by Susan Hunt, Pure Publicity for review, I give it a five.

2011-03-07T11:47:00.000-05:00

ISBN: 9780310293293

Zondervan Publishers, 303 pages

MY REVIEW:

Diann Mills has written a great novel about a half bred woman, part white and part Ute Indian. She always had a way with animals and loved the wild ones. She thought she had it made living in Southeastern Colorado with her rancher husband Charles and a baby soon to be born, when some men came riding up to their home "there were outside" and just started shooting. The men left Charles dead and Sage shot, her father came up and found them and Sage had only been shot in the shoulder but she lost her baby boy. She then went to live with her mother's people for a while. When she left she was determined to find the four that destroyed her live and kill them.

She had been taught all her life about Jesus but she was so bitter she had pushed him aside and she became a very good bounty hunter. She was not giving up until she found the man that killed her family.

When she found one outlaw and carried him to a town in the Colorado Rockies, she met the sheriff Parker Timmons, he had had some problems of his own. The outlaw was broken out of jail and also Parker's brother was killed and his two nephews were being held captive, so they teamed up together to find the outlaws and to try to get the boys back safely.

As they rode the Rockie mountains there ware so many things that happen alone the way, but Sage always had her falcon that she had raised and trained to help them look for the boys. Sage found out that Parker was a Christian and that he prayed all alone the way. She was beginning to remember the things she was taught by her mother's knee about Jesus.

This is such a great novel as always when DiAnn Mills writes, that you will not want to put it down. Page after page you will find something different, a great book.

This book was sent to be by Zondervan Publishers for my review, no money was exchanged.

2011-03-05T19:08:00.000-05:00

Wind Of The Spirit

J. M. Hochstetler

Read and Excerpt here:

MY REVIEW:

I have not had the opportunity to read the first two books in this series. Even though I missed a lot of the beginning, this book read very well on its own.

The year was 1776 when Elizabeth Howard and Brigadier General Jonathan Carlton was denied the permission to wed and were sent seperate ways in order to serve in the American Revolution war, she as a spy and had to dress as a boy so that she could get closer to the enemy and find out things that they may never be able to know otherwise.

Elizabeth continues to work for General George Washington and she begins to wonder if the stories reaching her of a white Shawnee war chief called White Eagle might be Jonathan.

Jonathan has been adopted into the Shawnee tribe but has enemies in the tribe that feels he hasn't given up his white ways. Wolfslayer, a Shawnee would like nothing more than to kill Jonathan.

Rich in history and full of adventure, romance, this book was a great read. Thanks to "Sheaf House Publishers" for sending me this book to review.

2011-03-05T18:29:00.000-05:00

TURBULENCE

Dana Mentink

I live in a strange state. Our famous Golden Gate Bridge is
actually orange, we wear flip flops year 'round and our cows are
reputed to be the happiest in the nation. A wee bit strange? You
bet, but it's the perfect home for a semi-desperate mother of two
who writes romantic suspense books and relishes life in the
Golden State when she's sane enough to pay attention! So kick
off your flip flops and stay a spell! (If you're looking for the free
podcasts and contest goodies, you'll find it on the Lift Me Up
Page. And book info? Well, you know where to find that.)
Dana

MY REVIEW:

I would like to thank the Author Dana Mentink for sending me this book to read and review. I have read a lot of her books and have never found one that I didn't like.

Now to this story, Turbulence is about a very rich and powerful man and his daughters, Maddie and Katie. He is dying and need an artificial heart called "The Berlin Heart" and it is being flown to him with his daughter Maddie watching over it. Katie and her husband were divorced but Maddie had been engaged to Dr Paul Ford but when tragedy hit the family, the girls were doing what there dad wanted and that is not always the right thing to do.

As Maddie and the group was flying the heart to the hospital where he father awaited it, they started to have trouble with the plane. It went down in the high snow covered mountains, and two were killed but four survived but for how long?

This book keeps you on your toes and biting your finger nails to see what was going to happen next, How many will get off the mountain? Will the heart survive the crash?

A great read as always by Dana and the people at Harlequin for publishing another great suspense book.

2011-03-04T11:04:00.001-05:00

By Charles Stanley

David C. Cook, publisher (2011)

Hardback - 224 pages

ISBN 0781404460

"Handle With Prayer" is a definitive guide to the power and practice of prayer. This modern-day classic is a must-read for anyone craving a rich, intimate prayer life that produces results. God longs to communicate with His children. He desires to move in our lives, help us through difficulties, and unveil the unseen. Yet few of us would claim to have a satisfying prayer life. So why is it that so many Christians struggle to open God's precious gift of prayer? This revised and refreshed edition features new artwork, an enhanced study guide, and updated content to connect with today's readers. With over 250,000 copies sold, "Handle With Prayer" continues to inspire believers of all backgrounds to revive their time of prayer with God.

(Taken from intouch.org)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – Dr. Charles F. Stanley, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta and founder of In Touch Ministries, demonstrates a keen awareness of people's needs by providing practical biblical truths for everyday life. Modeling his ministry after the apostle Paul's message to the Ephesians, Dr. Stanley believes that: "Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus–the work of telling others the Good News about God's mighty kindness and love" (Acts 20:24, TLB).
In 1971, Dr. Stanley became Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia. In 1972, a half-hour program called "The Chapel Hour" was launched on an Atlanta-area television station. Looking for a practical Bible teaching program, the Christian Broadcasting Network contacted Dr. Stanley in 1978 to request the program's inclusion on its new venture, a satellite distribution network to cable systems. At no cost to First Baptist Church, the broadcast grew from 16,000 local, Atlanta viewers to a nationwide audience in one week. By 1982, In Touch Ministries was incorporated and began radio syndication. "In Touch" programs penetrated almost every major market in the United States during the 1980's, reaching more than one-million households with the message of Christ's sufficiency for life's demands.
Today, "In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley" can be heard around the world via radio and television broadcasts, the handheld In Touch Messenger and the ministries Web site, www.InTouch.org. "In Touch" programs are seen and heard domestically and internationally on nearly 1800 radio and television outlets in more than 50 languages. The ministry continues to produce CDs, DVDs, pamphlets, books and other Christian resource material, including its award-winning, monthly devotional magazine, In Touch.

My Review:

I watch Charles Stanley on TV sometimes as he is a pastor of a very large church not too far from where I live in SC. He is the pastor in Atlanta, Ga.

As the front of the book states "unwrap the source of God's strength with prayer" such a great statement.

This book really relates to what he talks about in him messages, he had a way about him that make us understand the Bible. In this book "Handle with Prayer" Charles Stanley goes chapter by chapter and and explains in a way for us to handle our own prayer life. There are thirteen chapters and each one follows the others with a thirteen-session guide to help us alone the way to a better understanding of Prayer and God.

This is a great book to be used on your own on in a group settings as Dr. Stanley explains a way for us to talk to our Heavenly Father and how to make wise choices.

It can be picked up anytime and always find something new to read and understand.

This book was sent to me free from The B and B Media Group for my review.

2011-03-03T12:13:00.001-05:00

The Journey

Wanda E. Brunstetter

A new journey begins with romance in Christian County, Kentucky

ISBN: 9781602606814

Kentucky Brothers book 1

$14.99

Releases April 5, 2011

Paperback, 384 pages

A Note from Wanda from her web site:

Dear Friends,
Ever since I was a child, I wanted to be a writer. When I was in the second grade, I wrote my first poem about a moth. Luckily, I received encouragement from my teacher. During my teen years, I wrote skits that my church teen group performed during special holidays.
It wasn't until 1980, that I took a course on writing for children and teenagers. I became serious about a career as an author. Soon after that, I began to write stories, articles, poems, and devotionals, which appeared in a variety of Christian publications. Later, I had 5 books of puppet/ventriloquist scripts published. *These books are currently available by contacting me. (wanda@wandabrunstetter.com)
My first novel was released by Barbour Publishing's book club, Heartsong Presents, in Dec. 1997. I have now written nearly fifty books, with over 4 million books in print. Many of the novels I've written are Amish-themed.

AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH WANDA

MY REVIEW:

I missed one of the other series of Wanda's but when I started to read this book I remember right off. Now Zach is a grown man with children, as he was the little boy that was taken off the picnic table in front of his house as his sister went inside to get the tourist a drink. That just made me want to turn the next page and see what had happened with the other children as they had grown up.

They were all living their own lives except Titus Fisher as he was one of the youngest children, he and his twin brother Timothy were born in the late years of his mother's life. Titus just was not satisfied with the way his life was going and he had been in love with Phoebe since he was sixteen and she was thirteen. When she broke up with him and told him she was going to California with a friend and that she didn't know if she was ever coming back, it broke his heart.

Titus moved to Kentucky with a friend of Zach's and found a new life. He had quite a few problems as he tried to live in a very run down trailer owned by Allen, the friend that he had gone to Kentucky with. Will he stay there or will he go back home when he had grown up? What about Phoebe will she stay in California?

This is a great book and I can't wait until the fall when the next in the series comes out "The Healing"

Thanks so much to Barbour Publishing for sending me this advance review copy, to do my own review. Love the book.

2011-03-02T11:13:00.001-05:00

My Review:

Beautiful hardback book with photos in the middle of the book showing Rick and his family as he was growing up. This book contains come receipts

This book is about the life of Rick Tramonto and how he overcame the way he grew up and the influence of his dad to become the great chef that he is today. He started out with his dropping out of school and went to work at Wendy's in 1977 to help support his family.

He has been cooking since he was sixteen when he would help his grandmother in the kitchen. since then he has become one of the 10 best new chefs and he see where God had led him and taken care of him throughout his life. His body is covered with tattoos and he said there are scars of his life, he even has cuts and scares on his hands.

A Great book for anyone that likes to cook or has seen Rick on TV as he had been on a lot of talk shows. He came from a hard life but overcame all by his hard life and the way he has put his trust in Jesus Christ.

This book was sent to me by Tyndale House Publishing for my review.

2011-02-23T13:34:00.001-05:00

ISBN: 9781854249746

paperback, 240 pages

3rd book in this series by

Mel Starr

My Review:

First let me say that this is not a book that I could get into, I did the best I could and tried to understand this period of time. It was set in 14th century Oxford and about the medieval.

I think that Mel Starr knows what he is writing about and I believe he has studied this period of time and the way things were done. In this third novel, Hugh de Singleton a surgeon in the village of Bampton, near Oxford. Hugh liked Kate who proved a help in finding the missing books that were stolen from Master Wyclif's rooms and are up-for-grabs. . There are some very interesting people out to stop him, some are determined to stop him permanently if necessary, as they are have greed and really do not care for Mel at all.

This book was sent to me buy Kregel Publications for my honest review.

2011-02-21T11:59:00.000-05:00

The Fire of Ember

Diann Mills

2011 release

ISBN: 9780310293309

paperback, 340 pages

Zondervan Publisher

Second book in series, following "A Woman Called Sage"

My Review:

I really enjoyed this book, it has everything, western, romance, historical very good read.

Taken from back of book: "Twist, turns and unforgettable characters make this action packed page-turner a historical romance with fire."

Sit in Colorado, Bert was returning a stolen horse when stopped by the owner's cow hands and they were going to hang Bert. They were stopped by a neighbor that happen alone at just the right time. John Timmons lived on the next ranch with his mother and brothers. He was the oldest, he carried Bert home with him to put Bert to work.

Behold them all when bath time came after working and Bert was going to refuse but the brothers would not take no for an answer so Bert had to tell them that she was a girl.

So many things followed her, with two of the brothers falling for her, but every where she went they seem to be trouble following. Soon there was a lot of cattle gone from all the ranches except 5T John's ranch. It seems as if everything was pointing at Bert later known as "Ember Rose" to be part of the cattle rustlings. John was a lawman part time so he started working with Bob the sheriff at trying to find the missing cattle.

This book was sent to me free from Zondervan Publishing for my review.

2011-02-21T00:00:00.033-05:00

Blog Tour Feb 21-25

THE ME PROJECT

Kathi Lipp

The Me Project - 21 Days to Living the Life You’ve Always Wanted
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
ISBN-10: 0736929665, ISBN-13: 978-0736929660
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Paperback: 224 pages, Retail: $12.99

Grand Prize Giveaway: Leave a comment for your change to win!

Deluxe Starbucks Coffee Gift Basket

On March 7, 2011 KCWC will draw and announce a winner of the grand prize.

Book Summary

Taken from Kathy Willis' email

(San Jose, CA) Has that rush to make (and break) New Year’s resolutions already waned? According to Daniel Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, taking small steps every day will not only help you stay committed to your goal, but will also help you ultimately achieve that goal when obstacles come up. Author Kathi Lipp wants you and your friends to live out those dreams—and have some fun along the way.

As women, we forget the goals and dreams of our younger years. The busyness of everyday life gets in the way. To-do lists replace goals. The Me Project provides women with fun and creative ways to bring back the sense of purpose and vitality that comes with living out the plans and dreams God has planted in our hearts. Kathi Lipp’s warm tone and laugh-out-loud humor motivates women to take daily steps toward intentional goals. The end result? We get back our lives and enjoy living in the confidence of a purposeful life in spite of our chaotic schedules.

This handy guide coaches women to do one simple thing toward achieving our goals each day for three weeks. A woman experiencing the exhilaration of a rediscovered life offers more as a wife, mother, friend, volunteer, career woman.

Author Bio

Kathi Lipp

Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker, currently speaking each year to thousands of women throughout the United States. She is the author of The Husband Project and The Marriage Project, serves as food writer for Nickelodeon, and has had articles published in several magazines, including Today’s Christian Woman and Discipleship Journal. Kathi and her husband, Roger, live in California and are the parents of four teenagers and young adults. For more information visit her website: www.kathilipp.com

My Review:

As on the back of the book "It's Time to Pursue Your Dreams". This book has details on a way that you or me can fulfill our goals and dreams in a three week project. No matter what they may be. It is a daily manual in which to help you alone the way. Most everyone has so many things going on with their families and work that they forget them selves and what God has in store for us. We need to take a few minutes each day for ourselves, that is what Kathi is trying to portray here. God has a plan for all of us we just need to sit still for a minute and listen, maybe a few minutes in the morning or late at night or even on your lunch hour, we will be a better person for it.

This book is laid out in order that we may get ready for the challenge and each day it takes us step by step how to go through it. I gives us thought for each day and at the end of that chapter there is a place for us to write what we learned or thought that day.

Very interesting book that makes us look at ourselves each day instead of letting everyone else get in the way. I know we love our families and want to give them our all but then we do need something for ourselves.

This book was sent to me by Kathy Carton Willis Communications for me to do my review and this tour.

2011-02-19T11:51:00.000-05:00

The Shape of Mercy

Susan Messner

This book was set in modern day as Lauren Durough "a rich little girl" decides to do her own thing and not what her father wants for her. She decides to go to a college that is not just for rich kids and rooms with this very modern day girl. Lauren is an only child and is a loner. She enjoys English and literature so that is what she is majoring in. She decides to look for a job so that she could be more independent and found where a lady wants someone to transcribe and old diary about three hundred years old. She goes for the interview and get the part time job, but what she learns when she sees this very fragile book. It was written by Mercy Haywood back in the days of the Salem witch trials.

This book was very interesting and it read as though sometimes you are indeed reading inside the diary. Lauren finds herself drawn into this diary and has dreams about it.

I have never read anything about the Salem witch trials so this was a new read for me.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for the copy of this book in order for me to review it, with no cost to me.

2011-02-09T11:53:00.001-05:00

Pub. Date: February 2011 pre-0rder

Publisher: Zondervan

Format: Paperback , 320pp

ISBN: 0310319064

Blood Covenant

Lisa Harris

Synopsis:

When fighting erupts between government forces and renegade Ghost Soldiers deep within the Republic of Dhambizao, thousands are forced to leave their homes. Dr. Paige Ryan is sent to lead a team to set up a refugee transit site. Nick Gilbert joins the team to help fly supplies in and out of the area.
With the refugee camp already experiencing overcrowding, raids, and uprisings, a group of American mountain climbers is attacked by the Ghost Soldiers. Paige's medical team rescues survivors and takes them into the camp. When it's discovered that one of the trekkers is carrying an infectious disease, the harrowing conditions of the camp are forgotten. In desperate need of vaccines and the Ghost Soldiers blocking the only road out until their demands for amnesty are met, it won't be long before the disease is out of control . . . and there is nowhere to run.
With her second book in the Mission Hope Series, Lisa Harris creates vivid detail, giving you the feeling that you are stepping into the scenes of the book. But even more vivid than the details and action are the memorable characters that carry the story and keep the pages turning.

My Review:

Lisa Harris lives in Africa with her missionary family and writes about the African people. Since she lives among them it gives her a good image of these needy people. In this book her second one she tells about the Ghost Soldiers and how they attack without an warning.

Dr. Paige Ryan works with Volunteers of Hope International and she has been sent to the Republic of Dhambizo in Africa to help set up a refugee transit site but before she could help the first group of people she had been made to leave and though she was going back home to the USA. But when she got to the base there was another place they needed her to go help set up and she was supposed to be finished in three days so that she could catch her flight to leave. Oh how she hated to leave without doing what she felt God has sent her over there to do.

Meanwhile there was a group of American mountain climbers that are attacked by the Ghost Soldiers. They though they were safe on the mountain but it seems nowhere was safe from this group of soldiers as they wanted electrical equitment and anything they could get from the tourist. Paige's medical team was called in to help these climbers when one of them was found to have a infectious disease not the medical team had this to contend with alone with all the disease and wounded of the African people. With the Ghost Soldiers blocking their way, how were they supposed to treat this disease with out it becoming out of control.

This is a great book and if you have read Lisa's first one "Blood Ransom" then this one falls right in.

This book was sent to me free from Zondervan publishing for my honest review.

2011-02-01T13:19:00.004-05:00

A Billion Reason Why

Kristin Billerbeck

MY REVIEW:

Katie McKenna had left her home town of New Orleans to get away from a terrible embarrassment and she had moved to California. She had left her mother behind and all her friend except a college friend Eileen whom she roomed with, but she had known her in New Orleans and Eileen knew what her problem was.

An old rich boyfriend showed up at her door and was determine to take her back to New Orleans on his private jet for his brother's wedding. Katie had worked while she went to college in a bar as a singer and dancer. She did not ever drink but she used her talents without it. She was determined not to go back to New Orleans and had not even went to see her mother since she had left eight years ago. Her dad had run a grocery store during her growing up years but was not dead. Her mom had remarried and she had never met her new step-father.

She was not sort of engaged to a man names Dexter, who really was a bore and he didn't even mind when she left with Luc DeForges the multi-millionaire old boy friend. Will she be able to face the people in her home town and the family of DeForges? Will Dexter ever really be engaged to Katie? You need to buy this book and find out for yourself, I promise you will not be disappointed. A really great read.

This is the first time I have read any of Kristin Billerbeck's work but I want to read more, even if I am not a your woman but a great-granny. I think anyone will enjoy her books.

This book was sent to me for review by Audra Jennings of The B and B Media Group for my review.

2011-01-28T14:15:00.000-05:00

Words

by Ginny Yttrup

Released (Feb 1, 2011)

Pre-Order now!

amazon.com

christianbooks.com

I'm a novelist (Words-B&H Publishing-February 2011) and life coach who enjoys coaching and encouraging other writers. As I blog, I'll chronicle the journey of creating a work of fiction. The highs and the lows. Writing always includes both, it seems-moments of pure inspiration and days as dry as a desert. Whether you're a reader or a writer, join me on my novel journey. To learn more about my writing and coaching, please click on the links below.

My Review:

This is the first book I have read by Ginny but it a very good book. Kaylee is a little twelve year old girl that has been abandoned by her mom and left to live with one of her mom's boy friend that really abused her. She does not have much food and is left by herself a lot and she had stopped talking after her mom left. So she entertains herself with the only two book that the man did not burn after her mom left. The dictionary and Emily Post’s etiquette book. She had a phonographic mind and could remember what she read so she spent her time learning word and what they meant. She also had found an old Redwood tree that was so large and the inside had been burned at sometime but it was still alive, so that was her hiding place inside the tree.

The Story also featured Sierra a cured drug user that is an artist. She had gotten in with the wrong crowd at college and became a drug abuser and also had gotten pregnant but she would not stop the drugs so her baby daughter was born too soon and had died. She is now cured of the drug habit and it had been twelve years since her baby died. She had been to the grave of her daughter Annie when she saw this little wild looking girl. She look so afraid and so dirty.

Sierra reported the little girl and then became friends with her, and Kaylee started to trust her. This story is so sad but oh so good as for this once, one child's future looks bright as she is taken out of the situation that she was placed in. You need to buy this book as soon as it come out and read it. It will touch your heart and soul as you read about these two, and what they have gone through and overcome.

This advanced reader copy of this book was sent to me by BH Publishing Group for review.

2011-01-26T20:05:00.000-05:00

Grace Anonymous

Steven G. Allen

Tate Publishing

Paperback, 87 pages

ISBN: 9781615669455

Also in e-book

My Review:

This book is the true tale of how Steve started drinking alcohol at the age of fourteen and continued for years in fact until he reached the age of twenty-seven when he entered a rehab center. He tried to stop drinking a lot of different times until he finally got sober and stayed that way for eighteen years. As he was sober and during those years he began to become someone at his job and begin to get promotions. He had become successful in his job and had gotten married and had two little boys.

Steve though he was cured and could take one drink, but he could not stop with that one drink after he took it. As with so many people that are on any kind of drug or drink, he lost everything he had worked for so hard. He lost his wife, his children, his job and everything. During this time of trying to stop again he meet his future next wife number three and begin to write this book. A short time after he wrote this book, the damage of the alcohol and all his struggles took their toll.

Maybe by reading this book it will help someone to see that no matter how small they think one drink will do to them, there is one thing about it, if you don't ever take that first drink you will never become an alcoholic.

There is an epilogue at the end of this book written by Katie, Steve's loving wife. Be sure to buy one of these books, it really is a touching story.

This book was sent to me by Tate Publishing for my review.

2011-01-13T10:28:00.000-05:00

isbn: 9781933204659

paperback

Deep River Books publisher

My Review:

This book is a love story which will appeal especially to girls.As I started reading this book, Astril was just born and her mother "The Quees" dies. Isilian lives in the house but wants to go back home to her own mother and father. Her mother though that Isilian would be chosen as the High Priestess but that was not to be.

The protagonist is Astril, a daughter of the High Priestess in a matriarchal society that is slave to a religion of human sacrifice. They are called the Seerlings. The neighboring enemy kingdom is a patriarchal society, some members of which follow the One True God. They are called the Harkonians.

I am sorry to say but I did not get far into this book, I just could not grasp what they were doing. I think that a younger person may enjoy it better. It is well written the best I could tell and I tried my best to read it

This book was sent to me by Bring It On Communications free for my honest review.

2011-01-07T19:32:00.000-05:00

Click on picture

Grandma's Lilics

2011-01-02T13:47:00.000-05:00

Courting Miss Amsel

Kim Vogel Sawyer

Bethany House Publisher

ISBN: 9780764207846

346 page paperback

My Review:

Edythe Amsel was twenty-eight years old and had always had to take care of her younger brothers and sisters, since their Mother had died. They were all grown now except Missy and she was fourteen, so Edythe left her at the home of a brother and left Omaha to go and teach school in Walnut Hill. Their Dad had gotten so lazy and so down that he had lost all interest in his home and his children after loosing his wife, when Missy was a baby.

Edythe was staying in the home of Mrs Kinsley and she loved all her students except William who was always playing tricks on her and all the other students. She had been to see all the student's parents but William's Pa said that he took care of William at home and it was her place to do so at school, but on the first day, he had broken the switch that the last teacher had used on the children and stated that she would never use on on hers. But William was another thing, there was no way of controlling him.

When she first came to town to teach all the bachelors came to her and wanted to date her, but she had decided she would never need a man because she thought they were all like her Pa. There were two young boys that were being raised by their uncle as their parents had been killed and he was unmarried. She loved these boys and really like the uncle but then there was her promise to herself that she didn't need a man in her life.

Her little sister Missy ran away from the brother's home and she finally wound up on the street of Walnut Hill almost dead, she wanted to only Mother she had ever know and that was her sister. She stayed with Edythe and started to school there. But things became so bad with William and then a lot of the council members didn't like her way of teaching, she decided that maybe she would leave this town and go back to Omaha when the year was over, but she didn't how God was going to take care of her soul and her life, also the life of one bachelor.

This book was really good and I rate it as a 5, it was sent to me by the Baker group free for me to review.

2010-12-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Day 13: Lauraine Snelling (12/25)

Title: Love

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS! Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

Love

by Lauraine Snelling

When asked to write a Christmas message, one of my first thoughts was Do I climb up on my soapbox regarding changing the words in Christmas songs, using only holiday, etc. I thought about it and decided no. After all, they’re only words and what difference does a word make---really make after all?

Then I kept on thinking. If they’re only words… But we as writers know the power of words, as do readers. When the wrong word is used, it jars, while the right word can be most powerful. Take one highly overused and under practiced word---Love. Four letters is all. We toss it around so glibly, saying love ya and luv and love. But think about the power in I love you. Three of the most precious words in our language when put together. Those of us who write romances or books with romance in them, understand the power when one of our characters tells another, I love you. As humans we can never hear that enough or too much.

Christmas is about love. The greatest love story ever told, that of God for us humans, and it never changes. Customs change, politics change, the years change but God’s love never, ever does. At Christmas we are invited to share that love, to give it away, to pass it around. To find wonder again and joy in simple acts of love. We make contact with people we might never see or talk with through the year. That says I love you. We buy and make gifts to give, we reach out to strangers in need, we try to make sure everyone has a special dinner and every child a present. By giving, we receive.

So, let’s use the power words, but more so, put feet on those words and pass the love around. Let’s look for and find the wonder, the joy and the peace, maybe in small bits and pieces and perhaps in an avalanche of blessings. Make your days brighter with the simple gift of a smile, a kind word, a touch, for every single one that you give away, will come back to you multiplied. As you give, so shall you receive. Merry Christmas my friends. May we all recognize our blessings----and let an attitude of gratitude permeate this holiday and every day. With love and joy on this day, Lauraine!

~~~

About Lauraine: Lauraine Snelling is the award-winning author of more than sixty books, with sales of over 2 million copies. She also writes for a wide range of magazines, and helps others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the country. Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a cockatiel named Bidley, and a watchdog Basset named Chewy.

For more information please visit Lauraine's website: www.laurainesnelling.com.

~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info

2010-12-23T11:12:00.000-05:00

ISBN: 9780764806436

Paperback

More than Words

Judith Miller

(Daughters of Amana, Book 2

My Review:

This is the second book in the series "Daughters of Amana" I have read the first one also, and these were the first time I had heard of the Amana Colonies, but they are really interesting. They thrive within their own circle, grown their own food and supply almost all they need within this little community.

This story take up in Homestead Village, Amana Colonies, Iowa in the year of 1885. Gretchen is a young woman that takes care of her father, brother and her grandmother (Oma) and they run the general store within the colony. Gretchen finds herself trying to help with the store and looking after her grandmother who has dementia, she doesn't have much time for herself but when she had a minute she loves to write, which she is not supposed to do. She slips around and writes poems and sometime stories, then hide her journal where no one finds it, she thinks...but old those sneaky little brothers.

Oma keep running off and finds herself in all types of places that she does not need to be as in the apple tree trying to get apples in the spring. Gretchen has a boyfriend that is the town barber by the name of Comrad. He helps her keep her father from knowing about Oma's mind as Gretchen thinks he will send her away if he finds.

Then a Gypsy group sets up outside town and everyone is afraid of what they made do, but Oma slips off and makes friends with them, they really helped Gretchen and Oma instead of being mean to the town. The town has a lot of tourist that comes in with the train and buys from them, and looks............. One couple came to town and saw the Gypsies and fainted, it was learned then that a group of Gypsies had taken their little five year old girl the year before. How will things work out for Gretchen and Conrad? What will happen to Oma?

The story is a great read and very interesting about this group of people, somewhat like the Amish but so different.

This book was sent to me by Baker Publishing for my honest review.

2010-12-22T15:33:00.001-05:00

Book of Days

Will be Released January, 2011 Pre-Order here

ISBN: 978143671517

Soft Cover

The Author

James L. Rubart is a professional marketer, speaker, and writer. He serves on the board of the Northwest Christian Writers Association and lives with his wife and sons in Seattle, Washington. James lost his own father while he was writing this book so he dedicated it to DAD.

About the Product
...in Your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being." —Psalm 139:16 Young Cameron Vaux’s mind is slipping. Memories of his wife, killed two years earlier in a car accident, are vanishing just as his dad predicted they would. Memories he knows he has to remember. His father tells Cameron that to save his mind he must find "the book with all days in it" —the past and future record of every soul on earth. When an obscure clue leads Cameron to a small central Oregon town, he meets enigmatic Taylor Stone, a possible guide to finding the book who seems to carry secrets far deeper than anyone imagines. Local hotshot TV personality Ann Bannister thinks the legend of the book is a farce, but she has her reasons to join Cameron’s search anyway. Finally, there is fanatical New Age guru Jason Judah, who will stop at nothing to find the book of days before Cameron does.

My Review:

When I started this book, I thought I am not going to like it! But as I read on a few pages it really got my interest. It started out with Cameron Vaux in his father's room at an assisted living complex. His dad was only in his fifties so it was hard to believe that his dad's mind was gone. His Dad had been asking for someone and the hospital assumed it was Cameron as he was the only close relative. When Cameron got there his dad knew him and started to tell him about a book that would tell him his future, his past and when he was going to die, and Cameron's dad told him that unless he found the book, his mind would be gone also.

Cameron took some time off from his work and went to the small Oregon town where his father had lived when he was a little boy to try and find the book of days his father was talking about. By this time his dad had passed away and Cameron's own mind had started slipping. He keep forgetting a lot about this wife's death and where he put things, why had he written down a number and so on. He had to find that book before he became as his dad was.

This book was so interesting, things just keep happening while he tried to find the book. What were the people hiding and how could he find this book. He got his late wife's sister to come and help him. They just keep running into obstacles. You really need to buy this book when it comes out in Jan. 2011.

This copy of this book was sent to me by Marissa from JKS Communications for review.

2010-12-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

Day 10: Maureen Lang (12/22)

Title: What’s the best thing about Christmas?

~~~

What’s the best thing about Christmas?

by Maureen Lang

The answer to that question will undoubtedly be different depending on the age and the faith of the person being asked. Most children will say it’s all about the gifts. Adults, even if they secretly still enjoy the gifts, will probably strive to sound more mature and say the holiday is all about friends and family. Still others might say it’s about tradition, or memories or the music or even the special food we connect to this time of year. The scrooges among us might say this season is just another marketing gimmick, or materialism gone awry. The faithful will say it’s all about Jesus, a reminder of why He shed the glory of Heaven to step into human skin and frailty.

I’m not here to defend or attack any answer to this question, but rather to ponder those possible answers.

Gifts: They touch us in personal ways, as tangible evidence of someone else’s thought and affection. Even if we don’t get exactly what we hoped, there’s something to be said about the thought behind a gift being the important part. Why wouldn’t gifts be an important and valid part of this holiday in which we celebrate God’s gift of salvation?

Holiday Gatherings: Parties might be a lot of work, forcing some out of their comfort zone, but at the core they’re all about human connection. Isn’t that what most people want?

Traditions and memories: They remind us of the past, of who we are, with the hope that even as we look forward to an unknown future we still hold some things worthy enough to repeat every year. We might find ourselves letting go of some traditions, or we might want to start some new ones.

The music: This is the only time of the year when even secular radio stations welcome songs about a baby born in Bethlehem. As a nation we may be getting stringent about separation of church as state, but the lines blur just a bit with old favorites that reflect this season.

Scrooges: The holiday season is probably a time to endure rather than enjoy, but even the scroogiest-scrooge might admit the lights of the season are pretty to behold. They’re free to look at, after all.

As for the food, the busyness, the expense and all the other things that make up this season: keep in mind that it’s all temporary. This, too, shall pass. Until next year, of course.

I’ll leave you with this thought: we are all made in God’s image, whether we believe that or not. Part of that image is the ability to give—and to receive. So here’s my thought for the day: stop a moment and dwell on all the gifts of the season. From the little mementos that say we haven’t forgotten someone or been forgotten by others, to the costliest gift of all: what God did for us in the form of Christ. As you enjoy the sounds, the sights, the scents and the tastes of this season, may your only trouble be in choosing just one thing among so many best things about Christmas.

~~~

About Maureen: Maureen Lang is the author of ten books, her most recent from Tyndale House is The Great War Series which are full of romance, adventure and spiritual journeys. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, two sons and their lovable Labrador Retriever.

For more information please visit Maureen at her website, www.maureenlang.com.

~~~

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info

2010-12-20T18:08:00.000-05:00

Day by Day with the Best of Spurgeon

compiled by

Doleres E. Coupland

ISBN: 9781935265139

paperback

Deep River Books

Buy it here

My Review:

This is a nice size book that a lot of Charles Haddon Spurgeon's messages were complied by Dolpres E Copeland into this book. It is a day by day devotional that you can use alone with your Bible study . The book starts out with Jan. 1 and goes until Dec. 31 with a different devotional every day. It has 366 pages so it will keep you busy. Each day starts out with a scripture and then goes on to explain his idea of what that scripture means. This would be a nice book for your own study or as a gift.

"Charles Haddon Spurgeon ( 1834-1892) was born in Essex England, and is recognized by all Christendom as the "Prince of Preachers." Although he died over a hundred years ago he is still one of the most widely read Christian authors. His accomplishments are astounding considering his relatively short life. He preached his first sermon at the age of 16, became a pastor at 17, and in his twenties was already preaching to thousands in his famous Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. The number of sermons he preached is amazing-3,563 are published, making up 63 volumes." taken from back of book.

This book was sent to me by Bring It Own communications for this review,

2010-12-17T15:12:00.002-05:00

Lois Rock: Author

Sophie Allsopp: Illustrator

ISBN: 9780745961521

Binding: Padded Hardcover with 29 beautiful pages

Order the book

Early Reader

Description:

A heartwarming collection of prayers from the Bible and Christian tradition
The prayers in this collection include the Lord's Prayer and other must-have favorites, drawn from the Bible and traditional blessings, as well as from works by Cecil Frances Alexander, John Milton, Mother Teresa, and Saint Francis of Assisi.
The prayers are arranged according to themes which will help children establish a vocabulary for prayer. These include: morning and night-time prayers; learning to pray; praise; love; forgiveness; thanks; journeys; sadness; comfort; and blessings.
The collection is set apart by Sophie Allsopp's gorgeous range of illustrations of modern day children. Our Father forms a natural partner to The First Christmas, The First Easter, and The First Rainbow also by Lois Rock and Sophie Allsopp.

My Review:

This book starts with the first prayer "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" everyone that has ever read the Bible know this prayer, The Lord's Prayer is the one that Jesus taught His disciples the way to pray. This book has prayers that are based of the Bible and a lot from Psalm. Great book for any child, young or old, I enjoyed reading them myself. A great gift idea for any occasion.

This book was sent to me by Kregel Publishing for my honest review.

2010-12-17T14:58:00.001-05:00

Written by: Mary Joslin

Illustrated by: Amanda Hall

ISBN: 978-0-7459-4942-0

Hardback

Pages: 159

Publisher: Lion Hudson
Order The Book

About the Book:

This outstanding collection of prayers is thematically arranged to enable tweens to find the right prayer for any occasion—including morning prayers and evening prayers, prayers for the Christian year and seasons, prayers for oneself and one’s family, prayers for the world, and prayers for difficult times. The prayers, a mix of modern and traditional, have an accompanying Bible verse.

My Review:

This book is so beautiful illustrated, the pictures are very colorful, all the prayers are poems and are written so that a child can understand them or read them for themselves. A great gift as it has a presentation page in the front. The book has a table of contents so that you may find the prayer you need really fast. It also has an index of first lines in the back. "An enduring collection of prayers for every mood and season" quote from back of book. Christmas is only a week away but you still have time to go to your favorite book store and purchase one for you child, grandchild or any child you are getting a gift for. You will really have to hold the book in your hands to appreciate the beauty of it.

Thanks to Kregel Publishing for sending me this book for my honest review.

2010-12-16T16:13:00.001-05:00

Published by Fish Pond (A division of Deep River Books)

ISBN 10: 1-9358265-50-4

Hardback

Written by Mike de Vetter

Illustrated by Travis Orams

Pub. Date: 01/01/2011

My Review:

Mike de Vetter was a man that never wanted to grow up. He loved to work with children so that is why this book got written. It is beautifully illustrated book about a king that lived in a kingdom and had a beautiful little daughter he called the Rose Princess, she woke up one morning to find a large box at the end of her bed and in the box was a letter from her father The King. When the Princess opened the box she found all kind of things as she packed everything in her bag she went for a walk. As she meet people she would get one of her prizes from her pocket and give it to that person. Later in the day when she meet her father The King, the Rose Princess cried because she didn't have anything left, the people she had met during the day needed the things more than she did. That night as The King was putting his daughter to bed, he told The Rose Princess that he was so proud of her,

A beautiful book for children and I want to think Bring It On for sending me this book for review.

2010-12-16T13:06:00.000-05:00

Andi's Indian Summer

Susan K Marlow

Illustrated by Leslie Gammelgaard

ISBN: 978-0-8254-4182-0

Ages 6-8

Second book in Circle C Beginnings series

76 pages

BOOK 2: Andi's friend Riley shows her a scary old dime novel that sets Andi's mind spinning with thoughts of being captured by Indians. But when she and Riley ride a little too far from the safety of the ranch, Andi discovers the truth about the natives living nearby.

My Review:

Andi Carter and her pony, Coco, love to ride, and she's training her new baby horse, Taffy she received for her sixth birthday. Riley her friend starts reading her a dime novel about Indians, and it is really exciting and scary. Andi loves the story she forgets to watch Taffy, she has a way of forgetting about her pony as you saw in the first book, so she has to ride after Taffy on Coco to catch her.

But the story doesn't leave Andi and she starts having day-dreams about Indians. She get scared as she thinks they are coming to get her but she is afraid to tell her Mom, Andi is afraid she will be made fun of by her older brothers. When she and Riley ride off in the hills they get lost but they finally find the creek, but there's something moving in the bushes. Could it be Indians?

Circle C Beginnings is a series for the younger girls that have just begun to learn to read. I received the first two books in this series from Kregel Publishing for my honest review and I am so glad they came before Christmas as I am looking forward to reading these to my little granddaughter during Christmas.

2010-12-16T11:58:00.001-05:00

There are the free coloring and activity pages which are available on the Circle C Beginnings website.

Look Inside

Andi's Pony Trouble

Author: Susan K. Marlo

Illustrated by Leslie Gammelg'aard

ISBN: 978-0-8254-4181-3

Andi is an almost six year old little girl that loves horses. She has a pony she rides but thinks she is large enough for a big horse. She ask for one but her mother told her no and that made her a little mad. Her friend a little boy that works on their ranch has a large horse, but he is two years older, and she rides his horse but can not get on by herself. She gets into trouble with his horse and sits and cries as her pony did not come home. She had a surprise for her sixth birthday.

This is a really cool little book and really easy to read for young minds. It reminds me of the book I learned to read from (A long time ago that some of you will not know the book) Dick and Jane. Andi's story is more up to date with the advanced reading the children know how to do now in first grade.

This book was sent to me by Kregel Publishing for my review.

2010-12-15T18:46:00.002-05:00

Format: Hardcover
Number of Pages: 544
Vendor: Lion Children's
Publication Date: 2010

ISBN-13: 9780745962313

Author: Lois Rock

Product Description

Rock, an internationally recognized children's writer, has seen her books translated into more than 30 languages, with sales approaching four million. This delightful wide-ranging anthology features both traditional and contemporary prayers, those from Scripture and from liturgies. The indices allow one to find just the right choice for any occasion or holiday. Illustrated by Ruth Rivers.

My Review:

Lois Rock has really put together a very nice book with prayers for children. There are so many prayers that a child can learn to pray for any situation. Great for anyone to read as it is really a touching book full of poems. This book is broken down into section for different ages of children from babies to older ones. "Since its first edition in 2003 this book has been a trusted resource among all those who say prayers for children" taken from the back of the book.

There really is not a lot to say about this book that I have not already said, you need to purchase one for you family if you have young children or work with children in church.

This book was sent to me free from Kregel Publications for my honest review.

2010-12-13T12:48:00.001-05:00

Price: $13.99
Format: Trade Paperback
ISBN: 9780307458223
Release: 10.5.2010
Fiction / Fantasy / Young Adult

See a genuine he-feechie alive and in the flesh! Amazing! Astonishing! You’ve never seen anyone like him!” (taken from http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/581)

I am not a young adult but an old great-granny but I really loved this book, I laughed all the way through. Stephen Escalera lives in my state and I thought that was really great, he went to a college Furman University about 40 miles from me. Now back to the story, I have never in my life heard of a feechie nor the swamp where they were supposed to be from. Grady romped all over the country with Floyd as they tried one thing after another to make money, Floyd didn't want to make a living by working but by entertaining so to say. Anyway he always tried to make money off of other people no matter what business he decided to be in at the moment, He had a wagon and an old horse that they traveled in and Grady would dress up like they thought a freechie should look and then he would jump from the box and try to scare people to get them to pay to see him. He was always known as the ugliest child alive and that was all he ever knew until Floyd lost a bet and there was someone uglier than he.

Grady never knew where he came from and never knew if he had a last name. He would try to find someone in each town they went to that he thought may be his parents, but never did. He didn't believe is a lot of the things that Floyd did for money but he had not other choice but go along with him.

This book is so funny, I could not put it down read it in one day. The things that Stephen came up with I just don't see how he could just make up tales as this withing his head. I would love to be able to read the others that he had written but this is the first one for me.

Thanks to Waterbroo Multnomah's Blogging for Books division for this copy for my review.

2010-12-01T15:10:00.000-05:00

A Time To Dance

Karen Kingsbury

Publisher: Nelson, Thomas, Inc

Pub. Date: 06/29/201

ISBN-13: 9781595546883

Series: Timeless Love Series

In this novel, Karen Kingsbury introduces Abby and John Reynolds and their family. Almost 22 years of marriage under their belt John had started a little fooling around with another woman teacher at his school and Abby was beginning to email a little too much to her editor friend. She is a stay at home mom and writes for magazines. Abby and John have three children a 20 year old daughter, an 18 year old son and a 10 year old son, they had lost their second little girl when she was four months old with crib death. John and Abby find themselves so pulled apart that they both were ready to divorce but they wanted to wait until the perfect time to tell their children. John is a high school football coach and their son Kade was a senior and he played football, so they were waiting until after the championship that they won to tell the kids about the breakup. But, when they though they had found the perfect time and called a family meeting their daughter and her boy friend announced their engagement, so they could not ruin this time for her.
Through prayers and a series of divine interventions, the couple realizes that love is a choice, not a feeling. I really enjoyed reading this book; did not like all the football talk in it but that was what it was about a long line of football coaches and player, so what else would they talk about. I am just not a sports fan but the book was really good.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review blogger program.

2010-12-01T11:53:00.000-05:00

Katie Up and Down the Hall

Glenn Plaskin

The True Story of How One Dog Turned Five Neighbors into a Family.

About Katie:

“Some of the best things that happen in life are purely accidental. An intuition or spontaneous decision can take you almost anywhere, including to a profoundly close friendship that develops when you least expect it. That’s what happened to me. One day, with a brand-new puppy in my arms, I impulsively knocked on my next-door-neighbor’s door, anxious for advice about how to train her. Whether it was serendipity, luck, chemistry, or sheer proximity, that brief encounter, and the events that followed it, would change my life (and my dog’s forever.)”
– Glenn Plaskin

Watch the Trailer

My Review:

Glenn Plaskin writes about his dog Katie and how she unites a group of neighbors in an apartment building of people truly become family. The story takes you through Katie's life with meeting the rich and famous and a everyone in between. The story is much more than the life of Katie and includes the people she becomes close to and puts a smile on their faces. The story focuses on Pearl and her husband Arthur, an elderly couple who live down the hall and who had recently lost their own dog. They pretty much adopted her so that they could help Glenn train her as he knew nothing about dogs. Katie even gets to meet her namesake, Kathryn Hepburn as she models. I am not an animal lover of any kind, so I thought the story was cute, but it seems to me people in the real life are just putting too much attention to animals, when there are so many "real" children out there being abused and hungry. I believe that people come first and the media is taking the animals too the extreme.

This book was sent to me free by Hachette Book Group for my honest review.

2010-11-29T10:05:00.001-05:00

Naomi and her Daughters

Walter Wangerin Jr

My Reveiw:

Really interesting book about Naomi from the Bible. She had no daughters so she found a little girl at the well where they got their water named Milcah. Naomi finds that she had just lost her mother and her father had buried her under their house, he was a tanner by trade. Milcah was so afraid but she was too small to raise the lid from the well to get her water as she knew what he father would do to her. Naomi befriended her and got Milcah to trust her until she finally begin to take care of her all the time. When Milcah was a little older she was murdered on her wedding night and a hand was sent back.

Then Naomi's husband and two sons are killed during the war and the only one she had left was her daughter-in-law Ruth.. The novel tells of Ruth’s deep love for her mother-in-law.

Since Naomi and her Daughters is a fiction retelling of the Old Testament story, it does not follow the same as the original. Some of the characters and details are altered. As you know if you read the Bible, that Naomi had three daughters-in-law when her sons and husband were killed, and two of them went back home to their families but Ruth stayed with Naomi. The novel lets you see Naomi as she walks through the field and sees all the dead soldiers around her and even helps to bury them. As it takes place over a long period of time, Wangerin really pulled it all together.
This was a good read but a little hard to follow as it bounced around a little between the past and present but I found it to be a good book, as for me I love any Bible story.

I received this book free from Zondervan as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

2010-11-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

Emily's Chance

Sharon Gillenwater

US $14.99 338 pages

ISBN 9780800133544

Contemporary Fiction published by Revell

"Emily's Chance" is book 2 in "The Callahans of Texas" series by Sharon Gillenwater. We met Emily Rose at the end of Jenna and Nate's story, as Chance helped her haul boxes out of the Callahan Crossing Historical Museum during the wildfire that destroyed so many homes and businesses. In this novel, Chance Callahan has fallen head-over-heels for Emily, a museum curator who has come to Callahan's Crossing to go through articles being put aside to create a museum of the town's history. Chance is a bachelor and has never really ever dated a woman he would want to spend his life with, until now.

Callahans Crossing had just had a fire just as Emily got to town, the town had hired her to help them organise their museum, but now it was gone, so will she stay in town to help locate another place to display the few things they had saved from the fire. Chance just hopes so and tries to fine out a way to keep her there. She lives in San Antonia where she was trying to make a name for herself as an Museum Curator to prove to her parents that she could do it. There were very well off and had large businesses of their own but didn't thing she would ever be able to make it in the corporate world.

She loved the town and the town loved her, so did Chance but how did she fell about him? She was determined not to get involved with any man until she made it to the top of the ladder in the business world.

The Historical Society is low on money so it may be they will not need her services after all unless they can come up with a lot of donations. Will this little town be able to get enough antiques to set the museum back up and will she stay in town to help them?

This is a very good book, I read the first one and this one takes up where it left off, can't wait until the next one comes out from Sharon Gillenwater.

This book was sent to me by Claudia of Revell Publishing for my review.

2010-11-15T11:23:00.001-05:00

The Secret Beneath

Kathleen Fuller

ISBN-13: 9781400316205

271 pages

softcover, Juvenile fiction/religion

Tommy Nelson a division of Thomas Nelson, publisher
Releases Nov. 30, 2010

This is the second book in the series "The Mysteries of Middlefield". I was loved the book because I love to read about the Amish. The story is about Bekah, a nosy, young Amish girl who often gets into a lot of trouble by wanting to know everything. When a new neighbor moves in next door and her cousin Amanda suddenly moves in with the family she is really trying to figure it all out. Amanda did not want to be there, but as her mom has left and her day was trying to get her to come home, he thought she should so live with her aunt and uncle for awhile. But she does not try to get along with the family, and this left Beckah trying to figure out what the new neighbor was burring in his yard in the middle of the night.

The girls learn about the power of prayer and the importance of doing what the adults told them to do. Bekah's curiosity lands them in a dangerous situation when her parents went to town and left the girls at home by them self and the neighbor left also. As Amanda had started to fit more into the family she went into the neighbor's yard also but had went to find a shovel, that is when things begin to get dangerous for Bekah.

I enjoyed the book. The suspense made you want to keep reading as I wanted to know also what was Mr Harvey "the neighbor" was burring, I am nosy also and could imagine all types of things. I read the first book in this series and have read others by Kathleen Fuller, she is a great author.

I received this copy of the book from BookSneeze. All opinions are my own.

2010-11-11T18:15:00.000-05:00

Amy Inspired

by

Bethany Pierce

Go here to read the first chapter

MY REVIEW:

Amy Gallagher is a want a be writer. She is at the age of 30 and she feel her clock is ticking away. But she just received her story back (AGAIN the 27th time) from another magazine, Will she ever find anyone that will buy her story? She quit her job and went back to school and got her master's degree, but has had to become a part time English professor to pay her bills. To beat it all her boy friend of was breaking up with her in the school cafeteria (cheap to eat there) and he just walked off, no regret.

She had become friend with another writer Zoe' that could sell anything she wrote. Zoe' had moved in with her and that help both of them pay their bills. Amy hated to correct papers from her students, that was not something she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She had rather make to-do list that write a story, what was she going to do?

The cast of characters in Amy's real world (a fundie mom, a socially-awkward office mate. Then there is the young man that lands on her sofa due to bedbugs in his old apartment. As Amy begins to see her-self better she can start to find out you she really is. I was sure that Amy would get a little stronger by the end but she was determination to succeed, fall in love and not lose her faith in the process.

This is my first read of Bethany Pierce's and I found it enjoyable.

Bethany House provided me with a review copy of this book.

2010-11-09T11:45:00.002-05:00

No Safe Haven

Kimberley Woodhouse and Kayla R. Woodhouse

Released March 15, 2011

My Review:

This advanced reader's copy of this book was sent to me by B & H Publishing for review, I give it a five.

2010-11-05T17:28:00.001-04:00

Dreams That Won't Let Go

Stacy Hawkins Adams

Dreams That Won't Let Go is the third book in the Jubilant Soul series, and although I only read the second book in the series, I was able to completely enjoy this novel.

I enjoyed reading the struggles in the Burns family and how they dealt with their challenges without losing faith and their love for each other. Wedding preparations have been what most women dream of from childhood. The same holds true for Indigo Burns. The brother-sister relationship between Indigo and Ruben was particularly interesting because it was so real. Ruben loved his wife that was visually impaired and was so good to her.

Their parents become so involved in his homecoming after ten years away that Indigo feels resentful of his attention, and when her youngest sister Yasmin disappears it seems that she's been wounded by it as well.
Even though Indigo realized she was being ridiculous, she couldn't stop herself from resenting her brother Ruben for moving back home.

This book was sent to me by Christian Review of Books for review

2010-11-05T17:09:00.001-04:00

Worth A Thousand Words

Stacy Hawkins Adams

This is the second book in the "Jubilant Soul" series as I did not read the first one I had to start from scratch and learn the characters in this book.

This book is about Indigo, at her graduation party, her long-term boyfriend, who is fixing to join the navy, asks her to marry him. She is in love with him, but she wants to go to graduate school in New York.

She is in her hometown for the summer, working for the local newspaper. She has some health problems, so she lost her job on the paper, then her aunt, "who owns a beauty shop", had a stroke, and she has to spend the summer running the business end of her aunt's salon. She is trying to decide what to do about her fiancee, her schooling, and her career. Meanwhile her fiancee is dealing with his own secrets. What will she decide? Will she go on to school or will she get married? You must read the book to find all the answers.

Adams did a pretty good job of telling this story but there was something about it that needed something else.

This book was sent to me for review by Christian Review of Books for review

2010-11-02T12:10:00.000-04:00

Deadly Charm

Claudia Mair Burney

Dr. Amanda Bell Brown, or Bell to her friends, has been pretty lost without her husband Jazz. He had left her the day after they got married when he found her kissing her ex-boyfriend Rocky. Well, actually Rocky had kissed her. He did not know that she had gotten married and she was trying to let him know without causing more hurt.

Rocky was the pastor of the Rock House. Ezekial Thunder and his family were staying with Rocky while Ezekial was trying to jump start his ministry again. He had made a mess of it a few years back when he had an affair with an intern. Since then his wife had passed away and he had married the intern, Nikki. Together they had a little boy, almost 3, by the name of Zeke or Little Zeekie. Ezekial had other children " all of whom were named some form of Ezekial."

Bell does not really care for Ezekial and Nikki, especially after her exorcism of her dating and adultery demon at Ezekial's Crusade. It had ended badly with her vomiting right at the feet of Ezekial. This episode made it on CNN when they began covering the Thunders after Little Zeekie accidentally dies while taking a bath at Rocky's. Or was it an accident?

Bell decides that it is up to her to find out. She teams up with her detective husband, Jazz, whom she is still separated from, to try to find out the truth. This book did not hold my interest like most mystery books do, I just could not get into the story. This is the first one from this author for me.

This book was sent to me by Christian Reviews for me to review.

2010-11-01T11:32:00.000-04:00

In Case of Armageddon Break Glass

Jason DeVelvis

A lot of people think that Revelations is a hard book to read and understand but the more you read the better you will understand it. I love the book and see something different every time I read through it.

DeVelvis does an excellent job of incorporating Biblical text with a basic understanding of what each text means. He walks readers through an interpretation that immediately challenges, uplifts, and helps guide the reader through some of the difficulties of this life. The text seamlessly transitions between interpretive pieces about Revelation into a wide variety of other Biblical scriptures. Before long, readers begin to see how well Revelation can speak to the lifestyle which Jesus' teachings called his followers to live

There are so many books out there that helps you with your study of the Bible but every author are people just like I. They don't know any more than I do, and if you study the Bible every time you read a passage you find something different and although this books is a good read but please take it and study it with your Bible as you should with all of the study books. That is what they are just something to help you see the Bible through the authors eyes.

This book was sent to me by Christian Review of Books for review

2010-10-30T00:00:00.005-04:00

Read about Joseph here

Most of you know Joe as a thirty-year member of the American music group The Oak Ridge Boys (http://www.oakridgeboys.com).

He is the energetic one on the end, singing the high harmonies and lead vocals on such songs as Elvira, I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometime, Love Song, as well as other Oaks’ standards such as Fall To Fly, My Son, and Dancin’ The Night Away.

Many of you have come to know Joe as a successful author. His critically acclaimed Molly The Cat book series, as well as his many published articles have established him as a talented and appreciated author, Joseph S. Bonsall

My Review:

This is the first of Joseph's books I have read but I always loved his music with "The Oak Ridge Boys" I find that he is a fine writer as he is a singer and musician. This book is so fun to read, he tells about different things that has happened in his life, as the groups he was in before he joined the "Oaks". He tells somethings about his family, his farm, the travel on the road and what he enjoyed doing besides singing and music. He seems to be so humble and that he really loves God with all his heart. He alone with me really liked Elvis, and Joe thought he was going to be another Elvis so much he even dyes his hair jet black and while he was on the stage in the heat it all started to run down his face, it was so funny in the way he told it.

This would be a great book for a gift for anyone on your list that loves music. Joe has sung different types of music and he seems to like most of them, except like all of us that are getting up in years, the "Rap" or what ever the young people call that loud noise of today.

This book was graciously sent to me by Sheaf House Publication for review.

2010-10-29T14:49:00.003-04:00

ISBN-13: 9781606935644
ISBN-10: 160693564X
Publisher: Eloquent Books
Date: January 2009
Page Count: 292

About the Author

Cheryl Toliver grew up in a religiously diverse and historically rich region of the western US, where spiritual experiences and a love of history were major influences that shaped her life. In college she studied anthropology, old world archaeology and history, comparative religions, and developed an interest in the sciences. She later completed a secondary education teaching certificate, traveled in the Middle East and Europe, and has worked as a history teacher, Christian educator, and an editor for an academic reference and database publisher.

Ms. Toliver’s roots are deep in Christ, but she has experienced God’s presence and love through people of many faiths, and thus she has been inspired to write from this broader, more encompassing perspective.

Book Description:

Valerio Tullus arrives in Judea in AD 22, disowned and despairing, yet hopes to redeem his honor and life. Instead, he faces many entanglements - with his subordinate Gaius Vincinius, Jewish leaders, a local scribe Eliezer, the Herodian family, Prefect Pontius Pilatus, and the children Simon and Anna, nephew and niece of Leah, a young Jewish woman whose own struggles to survive and serve God inspire him. Through these entanglements, Valerio's life becomes interwoven with Leah's and, when Vincinius attacks her, Valerio defends her. Death seems the only redemption, but, though Valerio doesn't know or understand it, the compassionate God of Leah and her family and her people has a different purpose for his life. Thus, in AD 28, as a powerful, strange prophet named Yochanan proclaims the coming of God's kingdom, to be ruled by a leader yet to come, Valerio can only wonder - what is this kingdom of compassion and justice Yochanan has announced? And what redemption will it bring?

My Review:
I must admit that I'm not one to read Bible study books because so many of them simply rewrites what I've read many times before. Ms. Toliver offers an engaging twist by combining history with fiction. What I liked about Wilderness Refuge is that you can tell the author did her research. She took her time getting everything just right so we, the readers, would feel as if we actually walked those streets long ago with John The Baptist, Jesus, and the disciples.

I found the book very educational and interesting. It was a little difficult getting into but after the first couple of chapters. Anyone who is interested in history would love the book. Ms. Toliver teaches us Biblical history through her own love for the subject. Her passion shows on each and every page. I highly recommend Wilderness Refuge. Anyone that loves the New Testament will find this book very enlighten and a good book to read as you study your Bible.

This book was sent to me the author and Christian review of books for review.

2010-10-26T13:49:00.001-04:00

Barney and the Runaway
Author: Max Elliot Anderson
Audience: 8 – 12; especially boys
Release Date March 1, 2011 go here to pre-order
Synopsis:
Barney and the Runaway tells the story of Michael Ellis, who has recently told his parents to start calling him Mike from now on. He especially hated the way they were always telling him what to do. Mike decides to teach his parents a lesson by pretending to run away for a day with his dog Barney.

The plan of running away gets a bit more complicated than planned when Mike and Barney hide in a railroad boxcar, fall asleep, and end up in Georgia with a circus in the middle of the night. Good thing for the runaways, Big Bob the Clown takes Mike and Barney to safety in his wagon. Mike decides that living and performing with the circus might be a good idea until Big Bob opens Mike’s eyes to his unfortunate past.

Mike’s encounter with this grown up runaway, in the circus, helps him to understand that his parents truly love him. Then Mike and Barney save the circus. Through it all, Mike learns the importance of family.

Parents often punish their children, but only because they love and want what is best for them, not because they don’t care. Even though the life of a circus performer with a circus family may appear fun, if given a choice, most would agree that living in a warm home with loving, caring parents is the preferred choice. As the saying goes, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” After Mike overhears some unsettling news and both he and Barney are involved in a scary and dangerous crime.
Will Mike learn his lesson before it’s too late? Books for boys that girls love reading too.

My Review:
As I raised three boys I what boys love and how they react. This book is about such a boy as the ones I raised that loves his dog. Michael was at school and his teacher gave him a note to take home to his parents, she told him to be sure he gave it to them and to have it signed and for him to bring back to school on Monday.
As he grew a little he wanted to be called Mike and his father did not like for Barney to be in the house and in his chair. Mike was so up set he decided to run away and take Barney with him. He left a note for his parents that he was running away and he knew they did not love them because they yelled at him. So he and Barney got some food and left.
They found a train car with an open door so he put Barney in and then jumped in himself.

The adventure was not what he thought it would be as he was scared as he had reached the circus grounds and met Big Bob, so he and Barney stayed with him for a while. He decided then that he wanted to go back home, so Big Bob told Mike that he though that was best. He told his parents that he would never run away from home again as his parents thanked Big Bob for taking care of their boy.

This book was sent to me by Comfort Publishing for review.

2010-10-24T19:10:00.001-04:00

Refuge on Crescent Hill

Melanie Dobson

After returning from a photo shoot in Indonesia, Camden Bristow finds herself without a job, and in debt. Fount magazine has gone bankrupt due to the economy and everyone has disappeared along with her paycheck. With her savings gone and and no other job in the future, Camden decides to make a trip to visit her beloved grandma, Rosalie. Upon arriving in Ohio, Camden learns her grandmother has recently passed away and left her home, Crescent Hill, to her. Crescent Hill her grandmother's home has always been the only "real" home in Camden's life. While dealing with the loss of her grandmother, Crescent Hill suddenly becomes insecure and unsafe. Not knowing whom she can trust, Camden is thrown into the unknown, and soon discovers the many secrets of Crescent Hill and the Bristow family. Camden's life will change forever and she is forced to re-evaluate and learn how to better trust in God. "Refuge on Crescent Hill" is more than just a title for this book. It harbors the truth and lessons in this wonderful novel.

"Refuge on Crescent Hill" will make you not find a page you can stop on from the moment you begin reading, you will want to know more. It is mystery and suspense wrapped up in historical fiction. I loved the historical fiction that in in this story. The author does a wonderful job of bringing four diffrent stories into one, interweaving them until they blend at the end. Each character is well developed and brings something different to the story.

While the story is predictable at times, there are many moments that will surprise you and keep you wondering. The book was very hard to put down. I really enjoyed reading this novel and would recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction, mystery, suspense, genealogy, or Christian fiction. Melanie did a great job of keeping my interest and not wanting it to end.

This book was sent to me by Kregel Publications for review.

2010-10-19T13:44:00.001-04:00

About the book:

Description: Informed by the real-life fallout of the U.S. economy and devastation caused by multiple hurricanes along the southern coast, In the Shadow of Evil tells a modern day story involving the exposure of a building rebound scam. Amidst the layers of unethical practices, supply shortages, and excess murders, a top Louisiana homicide detective loses his heart to a charitable contractor while uncovering a secret about his tragic past.

Coming in March 2011

My Review:
The book starts with the prologue eighteen years ago. Maddox was seventeen and late for curfew, when he comes in he finds his mom stabled and she died in his arms.

Present Day: Maddox has become a detective and with his partner Detective Houston they are always working on solving a case. One he really wants to solve is who killed his mother and why. The book also includes two sisters Layla and Alana. Layla was a building contractor just like their dad and Alana ran a retreat for cleaning up drug addicts. They both were Christian and Maddox had no use for God. There are so much going on with people dying that went to the same church, murder, places being burned and all of it linked back to Layla.

This is a great read and as Robin Caroll always does with her books, she keeps you on your toes. This book will be out in March 2011 so be sure to pick up a copy, you can pre-order it here and here.

Thanks to B and H Publishing for sending me this advanced reader's copy of this book to review.

2010-10-16T16:31:00.002-04:00

by Carl Blunt

Carl is the author of The Life Book and has been the executive leader of national and international para-church ministries as well as local church ministries for more than 20 years. His writing has been read in over 80 countries and he has had the privilege of speaking to thousands of adults and students throughout the U.S. and Canada. He has also been featured on radio and television throughout the U.S. and the world. He completed his graduate work through Harvard, Gordon-Conwell, and Ashland.

For more information on media or booking inquiries, please contact his Executive Assistant at nicole@thelifebook.com

My Review:

This is a very small little book but it is packed with power. It starts with a statement with "Before Jesus is on the scene" This first part tells how things were great and then went bad. This little book is students asking and answering questions about the Bible when Jesus was on earth and what he did. I relates to life today and how the schools do not let the students have anything about the Bible on their person and how they can't have a prayer out loud. It is broken down into chapters and each one deals with a problem.

It tells how the young people today are struggling and how other students can help them and answer questions about the Bible. This is a helpful little book and you can download a book of your own here

2010-10-12T11:13:00.004-04:00

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

Donita K. Paul

My Review:

I received this book from Library Thing and I want to thank you for it. I read the entire book last night and it keep me turning page after page.
The story started while Cora was looking for that special Christmas gift. It was icy and her car slid off the road and messed up her tie rod, so while they were towing her car she went shopping, She had heard about a book store on the internet and she felt like this is where she would find that gift. She walked to an older part of town and found the store, the door was stuck and she had a time getting in as the man just sit behind the counter reading a book. She finally got the door to open and from then on everything was like the old fairy tales that she had heard when she was a child. The man knew what she wanted and when she got the book home a slip of paper fell out and it was an invitation to a Christmas ball, but no time or place.

The same thing happened to her boss's boss when he went to the store. Sometime you could find the street that was only a few blocks from where they worked but if you were driving a car, you could not find it. He bought a book also and the same thing happened to him an invitation fell from the book.

Oh this book is great and so right to read as the Christmas season approaches. You will laugh and you may even shed a tear or two but either way, it will take you back to a fairy land.

This book was sent to me by Library Thing free and I choose to review it.

2010-10-11T14:30:00.000-04:00

A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE

Donna Fletcher Crow

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Monarch Books (August 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1854249681
ISBN-13: 978-1854249685

My Review:

First in a new series of ecclesiastical thriller set in the wilds of remote Yorkshire, England.

A Very Private Grave by Donna Fletcher Crow is the first book in the Monastery Murders and is a comtemporary novel. Felicity Howard, a young American studying for her Anglican priesthood at a monastery in Yorkshire when her beloved friend Father Dominic is found brutally murdered in his room along with another monk. Father Antony is standing over him covered in blood. When thepolice suspect Antony, his superior orders him to flee with Felicity to discover what treasure that had discovered on his recent travels had caused his murder. The two go back over his path and that of St Cuthbert's body across northern England in hopes of finding the murderer and maybe even a treasure, while Felicity tries to forget that her traveling partner just may be a murder. But readers who love a good historical yarn mixed with modern day suspense will fall in love with Crow's quiet writing. Much of the book is a fascinating retelling of the mysterious life of Saint Cuthbert, as well as the travels of his body, which were even more fascinating! Antony is a tortured character with a secret past that haunts him in his interactions with Felicity. She is a smart and beautiful heroine who doesn't always have the best instincts when it comes to men.

If you are ready for a nice, thick book full of mystery, history and faith that you can really delve into, then this book is for you. This book was sent to me by Kregel Publishing so that I could do this review, thanks so much.

2010-10-09T16:02:00.001-04:00

About the book:

Description: Stone brings his unique blend of Bible knowledge, prophecy, and spiritual insight to the topic in this comprehensive look at the afterlife. He show what hell will be like for those who depart this life without a salvation experience, and discusses the location and purpose of Paradise, the temporary home for Christians who have died.

My Review:

I have read a lot of the comments concerning this book and what Perry Stone writes. I am a Christian and read my Bible everyday and I agree that there will not be any animals in Heaven. I have read a lot about where the lion shall lay down beside the lamb, but I believe that in the Bible what the words say are not what God means for us to hear. I am not an animal lover and I really really hate to hear dogs barking, and I just don't believe that God would let me go to Heaven and then have to listen to dogs or any other animal.
I believe that Perry has wrote a great book explaining these things. I know the Bible says that when God made the world and put Adam into it. He told Adam that he was over all the animals, and what about when Noah and his family went into the ark, they were to take more that two pairs of animals, that were considered at that time clean to eat. Then in the New Testament Jesus came and died so that we would not have to use blood as a sacrifices anymore, He took their place and said that it does not matter how we look on the inside or what we eat, God looks at our souls. He put the animals here for our food along with the vegetables so if any of the animals had a soul do you think God would tell us to eat them.

I have just finished reading Revelations for the fourth or fifth time and it does not say a thing about God judging the animals just humans. Oh well I guess I have given everyone my thought, but I really liked the way Perry Stone wrote this book. I believe everyone that really believes their pets will be in Heaven with them should receive a copy of this book maybe for Christmas.

Thanks to Strang Book Group for sending me this book for review.

Win a copy of Dewey's Nine Lives Here

2010-10-04T16:02:00.006-04:00

Winner is

VICKI

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(Dutton; Hardcover; On-sale October 12, 2010):

Product Description

The cat that captured America's hearts returns, to share more of his special brand of magic.

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World was a blockbuster bestseller and a publishing phenomenon. It has sold nearly a million copies, spawned three children's books, and will be the basis for an upcoming movie. No doubt about it, Dewey has created a community. Dewey touched readers everywhere, who realized that no matter how difficult their lives might seem, or how ordinary their talents, they can-and should-make a positive difference to those around them. Now, Dewey is back, with even more heartwarming moments and life lessons to share.

Dewey's Nine Lives offers nine funny, inspiring, and heartwarming stories about cats--all told from the perspective of "Dewey's Mom," librarian Vicki Myron. The amazing felines in this book include Dewey, of course, whose further never-before-told adventures are shared, and several others who Vicki found out about when their owners reached out to her. Vicki learned, through extensive interviews and story sharing, what made these cats special, and how they fit into Dewey's community of perseverance and love. From a divorced mother in Alaska who saved a drowning kitten on Christmas Eve to a troubled Vietnam veteran whose heart was opened by his long relationship with a rescued cat, these Dewey-style stories will inspire readers to laugh, cry, care, and, most importantly, believe in the magic of animals to touch individual lives.

About the Author

Vicki Myron was Dewey's Mom and the director of the Spencer Public Library for twenty years. As the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Dewey, she speaks throughout the country. Myron lives in Spencer, Iowa.

My REVIEW:

Dewey was a cat that lived in the library in Spencer, Iowa and he loved everyone and everyone loved him. He had lived nineteen years when he died and people over over the world heard about him and mourned his lost. He was always there to welcome everyone, big, small, rich or poor, he didn't care. He just had a way with him that drew people to Dewey. There have been other books written about him and so this one will be for sale Oct. 12, 2010 and I am sure that anyone that loves cats will want a copy.

Dewey could make a homeless person feel as though he had a home for a little while, he would follow some people around the library in search of that one book, they needed or he would just sit with someone and that just wants to read a newspaper.

Dewey Captured America's heart as they read the stories about him and also form the people themselves that he helped just by being there.

The Advance Reading Copy of the book was sent to me for review by Anne Staszalek, Marketing Associate, The Book Report Network, Anne@AuthorsOnTheWeb.com

2010-09-30T15:53:00.001-04:00

Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 208
Vendor: Deep River Books
Publication Date: 2010

Product Description
Uncle Eben's Christmas

By: Stephen Alan Slater

Unlike Ebenezer Scrooge, Eben doesn't mind Christmas. Actually it gives his business the extra year-end boost he’s come to expect. Unfortunately he's an atheist and has little toleration for “Christ” in Christmas. This year he is forbidding his employees to greet the customers with “Merry Christmas,” and is insisting that they say “Happy Holidays” instead. As Christmas draws near, a battle begins to brew in his soul. Coworkers, relatives, customers, almost everyone seems to be against his line of thinking.

Mrs. Muddleheim, his secretary, is a constant reminder of his lack of spirituality. Bethany, his favorite cashier, balks at not saying “Merry Christmas” to the customers. Pastor Edwards, preaching at a cantata appears to be directing his message solely at him. Hannah, his sister, and her family also seem to be part of the same conspiracy to convert him. Ginger, his niece, quotes the Bible to him. And Charles, his brother-in-law, easily rebuffs his counterattack against the Bible.

Rejecting the Gospel when he was a teen, Eben grew up and went onto start a successful business. Now he scoffs at anything religious, attributing his success to his own efforts. While he's not happy about his sister's Christian beliefs, his love for his niece and nephew occasionally has him attending church services when they perform.

Uncle Eben’s Christmas looks at the state of an unbeliever who profits from Christmas, yet gives none of the glory to God. It's the story of one man who is surrounded by Christians who he finds as poor, deluded, misguided individuals, yet is in his own bleak state about to get the wake-up call of a lifetime!

In a climatic dream, Eben meets an angelic being that takes him to the past, present, and future. These troubling experiences open his eyes to an apparently bleak future. But maybe there is still hope...

MY REVIEW:
I love Christmas books and this one is really great. Eben is the owner of a home-improvement store, he is unmarried and all he wants to do is make more money. That is all he thinks about while his sister is a Christian, so she prays for him all the time. It is almost Christmas and the store is really busy but he has told all his employees not to say "Merry Christmas" to say happy holidays. He wants nothing to do with God, and he does not go to church and wants nothing to do with it. He does always go to church when his sister or his niece and nephew is in a program.
So on Christmas he goes to the program and goes to his sister's house for pie afterwards. One of the children ask him why does he not believe in God, so he leaves. He goes home and sits down in his recliner and has an out of live experience. You must buy this book and read it, it is such an eye opener that makes him see what will happen if he does not give his heart to God. It will make chills over you.

As this great season is coming up where we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, this book is a must. Great book as at the end the author says he is the nephew of this man Eben Johnston. You can order it here.

This book was sent to me by Arielle Roper at "Bring It On" communications for review.

2010-09-30T14:26:00.000-04:00

GOD'S TEN COMMANDMENTS

Dr. Francis Nigel Lee

Thanks so much to Nordskog Publishing for sending this book for review. Anything that is related to the Bible I love to read along with my Bible and this book is just one of those that is ideal for study. We all know as Christians that "The Ten Commandments" are wrote as a pathway for us to go by. God fave these to Moses on the Mountains and they are still vital today. Dr. Francis Nigel Lee is a man deeply devoted to God and he did a great job with this book. He has broken it down into chapters that we can study them one at a time or do more than one. The words are backed up by scripture and these are placed though out the book. This book would be a great family Bible study in the home and it will help teach the younger generation and also we seniors more about the Ten Commandents.

Buy one or more for your family and just leave then on a table where anyone can pick it up and read a few words.

2010-09-29T11:54:00.001-04:00

A Tailor Made Bride

by Karen Witemeyer

I know that the cover will catch your eye and say pick me up! And you will be glad you did as you meet Hannah Richards in San Antonia, Texas, March 1881. I felt right at home with Hannah as she is a seamstress and so am I. Hannah works for a lady and she is at the home of an old lady that wants her dress made that she is to be buried in. She is having a red one made and Hannah thinks that is terrible but she does as the old lady wants. Miss Victoria likes Hannah and ask that she sit in her room and finish the dress, as Miss Victoria talks to Hannah and gets to know her, she finds out that Hannah wants a shop of her own. Since Miss Victoria owns a lot of property that she does not care to leave to her nephew and his wife, she deed a building to Hannah, but it is located in Coventry, Texas. A man had wanted to buy the property but Miss Victoria has never met him so she refuses to sell.

After Miss Victoria passes away Hannah moves to Coventry, and starts to clean the building and to set up her tailor shop so that she might make beautiful dresses for the ladies. J.T.Tucker runs a livery stable across the street and he is the one that wanted to buy the property. He is very upset over having a shop for just making ladies clothes. Hannah can't understand why the livery owner is so against her and yet he helps her ofter. She finds she likes him far more than she would like to admit.

Hannah is great, she is determined, independent, kind and trusting. She is a little insecure and fearful, but she is willing to work hard to overcome any difficulties that come her way. She just wants to make friends and to get some bussiness.

This book is really good if you like Christian historical fiction and I really, it will take to back to a slower time. The book has some mystery, love, Christianity and everything in between

Thanks to Bethany House Publishing for this book to review. You can also read my review here and order it.

2010-09-23T18:51:00.000-04:00

PROMISES KEPT
by
Cindy Bradford

My Review:

Promises Kept is a fairy tale for adult women. Cindy Bradford tells this love story of Faith and Tyler. For anyone who thinks romance is dead, this book will reclaim their belief in dreams fulfilled.

Faith has a split personality. The first half deals with a court case involving a priest. Faith's father was one of the victims and Faith is a lawyer on the side of the prosecution. Tyler is also a lawyer who is assisting he. From the moment they met, things quickly heat up.

The trial is over and the couple starts planning for a Christmas wedding. This is where Bradford leaves law and order behind and transports the reader to Tuscan villas and secluded cabins in the wilderness. Fantasy is readily showed on the page.

Readers will fall in love with him along with Faith. He remodels an old house with his own hands. He takes Faith with him to pick out a puppy. He asks Faith to marry him within weeks of meeting her. He gets along great with her family. He is not threatened by her successful career. He's extremely tidy and helps with the housework including landscaping the entire lawn. He's thrilled when Faith they start to plan a family.

Things take a turn when Faith has trouble getting pregnant. She thinks it's her, but an something occurs when Tyler discloses the results of a recent medical exam. The book ends leaving the reader wondering if is it better to have love and lost than to have never loved at all.

2010-09-23T11:29:00.001-04:00

The Battle of Lexington

A great book about A sermon by Jonas Clark, pastor April, 1776

Have you ever wondered who fired the shot heard round the world that fateful morning of April 19, 1775? Who were those brave men that stood against the best trained army in the world? The following is Jonas Clark's Sermon and his eyewitness of those events. None other but Jonas Clark could give such an accounting,as he was the pastor of those embattled farmers who stood their ground. Clark is giving an honest accounting of the Battle of Lexington. This book is a good look at the way pastors used to preach and I remember them doing so.

America is perishing for the need of preachers who apply Gods Holy Word to every area of life . The Church needs more pastors like Jonas Clark, a preacher who taught the great doctrines of salvation in Christ. We need pastors today that are not afraid of stepping on someones toes or offending a life style that is taught to be so bad in the Bible. It seems today that everything goes and there is no morals anymore, not even in our churches. Old Satan is just sitting back and laughing at all the people he is getting.

This book was sent to me by Nordskog Publishing for review.

2010-09-19T12:06:00.000-04:00

My Review:

Bella Jordan, an FBI agent was sent to Ballinger, Texas to a High Butt Ranch where the three bodies had been found. The deaths were associated with the Spider Rock treasure. The two suspects are obviously the rancher with a criminal past who refused access to the treasure seekers and Richardson a killer who is on the FBI's most wanted list. However, as Bella digs for clues, she soon receives threats to back off or else. The warnings seem too personal so she concludes whoever this individual is he or she knows her.

Bella got to know the police and the people around her, and some she remembered as she came from this part of Texas before she ran away at the age of sixteen from her father that had sold her to Richardson to pay off his gambling debts. This is her first time back and she wanted to find her half brothers and little sister. She is worried how their lives had turned out with her father as care taker.

Pursuit of Justice is such a great read that from the first page you don't want to put it down. DiAnn Mills did such a great job with this book that you can not figure out who done it. There are so many twist and turns that as you read you will think one person was the killer and then change you mind the second page. I was tempted about half way through the book to peek in the back, but I didn't I keep reading and changing my mind about the killer.

This book was sent to me by Tyndale Publishing for my honest review.

2010-09-09T12:03:00.000-04:00

FOR TIME & ETERNITY
Book Tour and Review

Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 384
Vendor: Tyndale House
Publication Date: 2010

Dimensions: 8.25 X 5.50 (inches)
ISBN: 1414335962
ISBN-13: 9781414335964
Availability: Available to ship on or about 09/10/10.

Description:

Escaping her legalistic upbringing, Camilla Deardon runs away from home to marry and start a family with Nathan, a young Mormon. But when the church elders give Nathan the honor of taking a second wife, Camilla questions this special revelation and remembers her childhood faith. Will she be able to save herself and her children? 384 pages, softcover from Tyndale.

MY REVIEW:

The story begins in Iowa, set during the Mormon exodus toward Utah. The story doesn't cover the journey and the hardships of the trail but instead it is the story of a young Christian girl, who, against her parents wishes, runs away with the young Mormon man whose eyes speak of promise and passion.

The history of the Mormon church is one that is tarnished, as is the history of Christianity. This is a religion that I have heard some bad things about, but have never really tried to find out anything about them. I do know that their head quarters are in Salt Lake City Utah and that they own all the rights to all the information about everyone. I have done quite a bit of genealogy and have to go through and pay to use their site to get what I needed and then they kept my info and resold it to others.

In the midst of that epic struggle of man and God is the age old struggle of man and woman a woman who is asked, expected and encouraged to share the husband she loves with all her heart, with another. Pittman delivers there as well. This part I had heard about and don't think this is in the will of God our Maker.

This book was sent to me for review by Tyndale House Publishers.

About the Author

Allison Pittman is a Christian author and speaker who watches too much TV, eats too much chocolate, and lives a gloriously flawed life covered by the grace of her savior Jesus Christ!

2010-09-07T14:56:00.000-04:00

Lumby On The Air
by
Gail Fraser

This is the 5th book in the series, I have only read "The Promise of Lumby" which I found to be a great. This book Lumby in the Air is just as good. I really like "Hank" the pink flamingo who plays a great part in the books that I have read. He is moved all over town and the book talks as if he a real person, Hank dreams of being a great eagle that can score so high in the air.

In this book Pam and Mark are getting ready to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with a week long celebrations. It is to coincide with this year's Chatham County Fair and what a week this will be. The brother-in-law is coming in bringing his talk radio show crew "in which no one invited" and all mayhem breaks out.

The first thing that went wrong was Mark's name on the invitation was wrong and it read "Fark" instead of Mark. The Monks from the monastry are back and some nuns that have run out of room at their abby are wanting some land and join forces with the Monks so they would have room to plant their grape vines. This gets to be a chore as the nuns do all the work themselves.

The town newspaper prints some really funny things and this is just one that I really liked from one of the papers, "The Lumby Lines" classified ads, "Mixing bowl set ideal for wife with round bottom for dough beating" and I just have to tell one more. From the same days paper " Parachute, never been opened. Used once , slightly stained. $350.00 0r best offer. Lumby Sporting Goods." I have to stop now so you will want to but this book and all of them if you have not read any, they are sure to please...

This book proof was sent to me by Christian Review of Book for review.

2010-09-06T12:09:00.002-04:00

Fighting For Bread and Roses
by
Lynn A. Coleman

My Review:

This is a great story as only Lynn Coleman can tell. Lindsey Taylor is a writer of historical mystery and she is always on the go researching her stories. She has just got our of a mess in New Orleans and is not heading straight into another one.

She goes to Lawrence, Mass to research the old story of the mill workers back in 1912, and the strike that was called "Bread and Roses" but she had no idea of what she was going to uncover. She talks and makes friends with all the older residence and goes into attics and finds old diaries and papers, which tie the people together that did not even know they were related.

As always she gets into trouble with people following her in her car, to being shot at, someone breaking into her hotel room and so on. Her husband is a lawyer back in Miami and is wanting her to come home before she gets hurt.

This book was sent to me by Kregel Publishing for Review

2010-09-06T11:53:00.001-04:00

Pieces of Silver
by
Maureen Lang

Liesel Bonner is a German-American girl caught in the series of events that capture America before and during the Great War. In a series of a few days, her life at home and work is ripped apart. She loses several jobs because of her German last name-even though she is a loyal American patriot.

Then, one day, a man named David DeSerre enters her life. A special agent at the FBI, he is trailing Josef, the man Liesel thought she would marry. Josef was a family friend, but no one knew that he was plotting espionage and treason to slow the American War effort and help his native Deutchland. Liesel is forced to choose between her country and between the love of her life.

Maureen Lang weaves a powerful epic, driving the reader straight through the emotions and high drama of a romantic spy thriller. She takes us through the emotional journeys of Liesel and David and Josef, with every page a new harrowing twist of fate.

Pieces of Silver is a classic tale of romance and intrigue from a seemingly lost American era: The Great War.

This book was sent to me for review by Kregel Publishing.

2010-09-03T10:56:00.000-04:00

Andea Carter and the
Trouble with Treasure
by
Susan K. Marlow

New adventures in Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure. Andi's friend Corey is given an old map showing where gold used to be found. He convinces Andi and Jenny that panning for gold will make them rich. They are looking to do this as Andi's brother takes them along to the lumber camp that his family is part owner of.

Before they go, Andi, Cory and Jenny find themselves jailed by an deputy because of some horseplay resulting in a broken water trough. Andi's brother comes to the rescue just as news of a bank robbery demands the deputy's attention. The youthful jailbirds obtain their freedom hoping no one see them in town.

Panning for gold is not as easy as they had imagined. However, fishing for supper and camping under the stars is relaxing until a rattlesnake shows up. The injury and side trip for medical attention throws them off schedule. Then they get really excited as they see someone go into the salon that they think they know.

Susan K. Marlow's most recent story gives Andi Carter the opportunity to see how growing up can be. She enjoys her friends and the simple pleasures of life. However, when Andi is faced with more trouble than a thirteen-year-old knows how to handle, she relies on prayer for guidance. Andrea accomplishes tasks she knows are impossible without God's help.

This book offers a look at life in the early days of California's history. The Trouble with Treasure is a great addition to a series that will keep readers saddling up with Andrea Carter.

This book was sent to me by Christian Review of Books for review.